The Preparation, Characterization and Photocatalytic Activity of Fe_xCe_1-xO_2-n Microstructures

Abstract

CeO₂ nanoparticles (undoped and Fe-doped) were synthesized by coprecipitation method with different precipitants (ammonium hydrogen carbonate and sodium carbonate). X-ray diffraction analysis revealed the absence of any impurity phases in all samples. BET (Brunauer, Emmett and Teller) tests showed that the average sizes of the catalysts synthesized with NH₄HCO₃ and Na₂CO₃ particles were 6.95 nm to 8.83 nm and 11.09 nm to 16.9 nm respectively. Specific surface area of the particles changed regularly. SEM (scanning electron microscope) revealed that the shapes of CeO₂ and Fe-doped nanoparticles (prepared by ammonium hydrogen carbonate) were rodlike, the shapes of CeO₂ and Fe-doped nanoparticles (prepared by sodium carbonate) were schistose. UV-Vis spectroscopy showed that the absorption value of catalysts changed as Fe doped. The direct and indirect band gap of catalysts diminished with Fe doping, and the catalysts prepared with Na₂CO₃ had narrower band gap than the catalysts prepared with NH₄HCO₃. Fe_0.05Ce_0.95O_2-n synthesized with Na₂CO₃ has the best catalytic capability of Rhodamine B degradation.

Keywords:

• CeO₂
• coprecipitation
• photocatalysis
• Rhodamine B degradation