Influence of transition metals co-doping on CeO2 magnetic and photocatalytic activities

Design and development of novel highly efficient diluted magnetic semiconductors for spintronic devices and photocatalytic application is of great importance. In this regard, we report on the synthesis and analysis of new class of highly efficient pure CeO2, Ce0.42Fe0.04Co0.04O50, Ce0.42Co0.04Ni0.04O50 and Ce0.38Fe0.04Co0.04Ni0.04O50 nanoparticles. The crystal structure, phase, optical characteristics, magnetic properties and photocatalytic characteristics of synthesized nanoparticles were measured using various analytical techniques. The comprehensive structural analyses revealed that incorporation of Fe, Co and Ni ions in host lattice without change their original structure. Presence of defect sites in synthesized nanoparticles was confirmed through photoluminescence studies. Room temperature magnetic measurements revealed that pure CeO2 and Ce0.42Fe0.04Co0.04O50 nanoparticles showed paramagnetic nature as well as Ce0.42Co0.04Ni0.04O50 and Ce0.38Fe0.04Co0.04Ni0.04O50 nanoparticles exhibited mixed behavior of paramagnetic and ferromagnetic characteristics. Further, Ce0.38Fe0.04Co0.04Ni0.04O50 nanoparticles showed better photocatalytic activity with pseudo first order rate constant 0.0157 (min(-1)) and it is 1.7 times larger than that of pristine CeO2 nanoparticles.