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 Ce0.96Nd0.04O2 (CN), Ce0.96Yb0.04O2 (CY), and Ce0.92Nd0.04Yb0.04O2 (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%). Keywords: CeO2, Self-propagating reaction, Co-doping, Photocatalytic, Rare earth element.