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Fabrication of p–n heterojunction Ag2O@Ce2O nanocomposites make enables to improve photocatalytic activity under visible light

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Abstract

The design of highly efficient heterostructure material having good photocatalytic efficiency is good technique for the degradation of organic pollutants. In this paper, a series of Ag2O/Ce2O p–n heterostructure were prepared via facile hydrothermal approach with varying concentration of Ag2O to Ce2O (0%, 2%, 4%, and 6%). The crystal structure, morphology, chemical composition, optical properties and photocatalytic activity of synthesized nanostructures were studied. All test verified the development of p–n heterostructure which has reduced band gap energy as well as lower recombination of charge carriers. Moreover, this novel p–n heterojunction showed excellent charge carrier separation and transfer ability, thus superior photocatalytic efficiency under visible photo-illumination towards the degradation of methyl orange dye. Among all samples. 4% Ag2O/Ce2O nanocomposite exhibited superior photocatalytic activity, which is greatly higher than pure Ag2O, Ce2O and other nanocomposites. These results indicate that the synthesized p–n heterojunction will provide significant advancement in environmental field.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, University of Gujrat, Hafiz Hayat Campus, Gujrat, 50700, Pakistan

    N. R. Khalid, Amna Arshad, M. B. Tahir & M. Khalid Hussain

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  1. N. R. Khalid
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  2. Amna Arshad
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  3. M. B. Tahir
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  4. M. Khalid Hussain
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Correspondence to M. B. Tahir.

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Khalid, N.R., Arshad, A., Tahir, M.B. et al. Fabrication of p–n heterojunction Ag2O@Ce2O nanocomposites make enables to improve photocatalytic activity under visible light. Appl Nanosci 11, 199–206 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13204-020-01571-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13204-020-01571-z

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