Investigation of the Effects of Yb and Nd Doping and Operating Temperature on CeO2 Photocatalyst Properties

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of the co-doping of Yb and Nd elements and the operating temperature on photocatalytic degradation. Composites of Ce_0.96Nd_0.04O₂ (CN), Ce_0.96Yb_0.04O₂ (CY), and Ce_0.92Nd_0.04Yb_0.04O₂ (CNY) were obtained by self-propagating room temperature reaction method, involving several sequential steps. The composites were sintered at 500 and 600 °C. The structural and morphological properties of the compounds were examined via X-ray powder diffractometry (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Raman spectroscopy, and UV-vis spectroscopy. In the degradation study, methylene blue was chosen as the dyestuff. Although the operating temperature affected the degradation negatively, co-doping had a positive effect. The lowest bandgap (2.70 eV) was found for the CNY compound and the CNY without applied operating temperature had the highest percentage of degradation (80.76%).