Fabrication and photocatalytic activities of dark brown CeO2 with a crystalline-core/disordered-shell heterostructure. (13th June 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chen, Zhigang; Ding, Yongyi; Fang, Ning; Liu, Chengbao
• Is Part Of: Materials research express. Volume 5:Number 6(2018)
• Publication Date: 2018-06-13
• Subjects: ceria -- heterostructure -- disordered shell -- light absorption -- carrier separation; Materials science -- Research -- Periodicals; Materials science -- Periodicals; 620.11
• DOI: 10.1088/2053-1591/aac801
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2053-1591

Abstract

Abstract: Dark brown ceria, CeO2, with excellent photocatalytic properties, was synthesized by constructing a crystalline-core/disordered-shell heterostructure using NaBH4 reduction. The structure, crystallinity and morphology of the as-prepared samples were characterized using x-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. The x-ray photoelectron spectra confirm a high concentration of Ce 3+ and oxygen vacancies in the CeO2 sample. The dark brown compound shows excellent properties especially with respect to solar-energy absorption but also the transfer and separation of charge carriers—due to its heterostructure-related features. The photocatalytic activity of the treated samples is obviously higher than that of pure CeO2 and reaches the maximum with Ce 3+ /Ce molar ratio of 51.7%.