Controlled growth and waste water treatment of light rare earth (La, Ce, Pr) oxides with 3D superstructures

Abstract

Light rare earth (La, Ce, Pr) oxides with 3D superstructure are a kind of particularly interesting materials because of their unique optical, electronic, magnetic, and catalytic properties arising from the confinement of the 4f electrons. Here, we report a rapid and simple electrodeposition methodology for the assembly of three-dimensional (3D) superstructures of La 2 O 3 , CeO 2 , and Pr 2 O 3 nanobelts using the nitrates based electrolytes with NH 4 Ac, and KCl as additives. The removal efficiencies of Congo red solution for La 2 O 3 , CeO 2 , and Pr 2 O 3 nano superstructures can reach 68%, 76% and 71% in dark. But CeO 2 show better removal efficiency than La 2 O 3 and Pr 2 O 3 under light irradiation.