Enhanced photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange using Ag/Sn-doped CeO2 nanocomposite

• Published in: Journal of materials science. Materials in electronics 2019-03, Vol.30 (6), p.6116-6126
• Main Authors: Kazazi, Mahdi, Moradi, Banafsheh, Delshad Chermahini, Mehdi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Catalytic activity; Cerium oxides; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemical precipitation; Chemistry and Materials Science; Cobalt; Dyes; Energy dispersive X ray spectroscopy; Energy gap; Field emission microscopy; Light irradiation; Materials Science; Nanocomposites; Nanoparticles; Optical and Electronic Materials; Organic chemistry; Photocatalysis; Photodegradation; Physiochemistry; Scanning electron microscopy; Silver; Spectrum analysis; Tin; X-ray diffraction
• ISSN: 0957-4522; 1573-482X
• DOI: 10.1007/s10854-019-00913-0

Cerium oxide (CeO 2 ) has attracted much attention in recent years because of its unique physiochemical properties in photocatalysis. Herein, pure CeO 2 and Sn-doped CeO 2 (Sn–CO) nanoparticles were synthesized by a simple hydrothermal method. In addition, the Sn-doped CeO 2 sample was composited with Ag nanoparticles by a chemical precipitation method to prepare Ag/Sn–CO nanocomposite. The prepared samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and UV-visible absorption spectroscopy. Furthermore, the photocatalytic activity of the as-prepared cerium oxide-based samples was evaluated using the degradation of methyl orange (MO) under ultraviolet and visible light irradiation. It was found that photocatalytic activity of the pure CeO 2 nanoparticles was enhanced through Sn doping and surface sensitization with Ag. The enhanced photocatalytic performance of the Sn-doped CeO 2 sample can be ascribed mainly to a decrease in its band gap energy. Moreover, the improved photocatalytic activity of the Ag/Sn–CO nanocomposite compared to that of the Sn–CO sample is due to its localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) effect. The Ag/Sn–CO sample exhibited an efficient photocatalytic characteristic for degrading MO under visible light irradiation with a high degradation rate of 99% after 45 min. The responsible mechanism for the enhancement of photocatalytic activity of cerium oxide was discussed.