Photocatalytic and photo-induced disinfection activities of sol-gel synthesized CeO2-SnO2:TM (TM= Co, Ni and Mn) nanocomposites: Relation between physical properties and their performance

CeO2-SnO2 and transition metals (Co, Ni and Mn)-doped CeO2-SnO2 nanoparticles (NPs) were prepared by organic sol-gel route. X-ray diffraction analysis and Williamson-Hall isotropic strain method indicated that the crystallite size of cubic fluorite structure decreased by transition metals doping from 12.6 to 4.7 nm. The optical bandgap of CeO2-SnO2 nanocomposites decreased from 3.21 to 2.91 eV for CeO2 -SnO2: Mn sample. The blue-green PL emission peak of NPs enhanced with doping due to increased Ce3+ and oxygen vacancies content. Photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine B (RhB) in aqueous solution under UV irradiation in the presence of CeO2-SnO2 NPs was investigated. Transition metals doping improved The photodegradation ratio of CeO2-SnO2 and the CeO2-SnO2: Mn nanoparticles had the highest efficiency compared to other samples. More interesting, evaluation of antibacterial and photoinduced disinfection activity of CeO2-SnO2: TM NPs against clinically important bacteria manifested the highest antibacterial potential for CeO2-SnO2: Mn compared to the other NPs. It is therefore proposed that enhanced oxygen vacancies as well as high surface area assist to produce reactive oxygen sites (ROHs) which are accountable for photocatalytic and photo-induced disinfection activities. (C) 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.