Preparation of cerium and yttrium doped ZnO nanoparticles and tracking their structural, optical, and photocatalytic performances

Yttrium (Y) and cerium (Ce) co-doped ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized via the simple sol-gel auto-combustion route. The effect of Ce and Y doping on the structure, morphology, optical, Zeta po-tential, and photocatalytic activities of ZnO NPs was examined by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer, X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscope (TEM), UV-vis spectropho-tometer, and Zetasizer instrument. XRD data show that the fabricated samples crystallize into a hex-agonal wurtzite structure. The dopants Y and Ce affect the crystal structure of ZnO NPs. The crystallite size is reduced with the co-doping effect. TEM results confirm the nano-sized particles of the prepared samples. An increase in optical bandgap values from 3.19 eV for x = 0.0 to 3.22, 3.24, and 3.25 eV for x = 0.01, 0.03, and 0.05 samples was confirmed by UV-Vis spectroscopy analysis. Y and Ce co-doped ZnO nanoparticles show significant alteration of zeta potential and photocatalytic properties compared to undoped ZnO NPs. Comparatively, undoped ZnO shows better stability in deionized water as compared to Ce-Y doped ZnO NPs and exhibits high photocatalytic activity (degradation rate, 97.92%) for methyl orange (MO) degradation.(c) 2022 Chinese Society of Rare Earths. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.