Morphological and optical investigation of Ce doped La2O3 nanoparticles for photocatalytic applications

Abstract

The simple hydrothermal approach was used to create various morphologies of cerium (Ce) substituted lanthanum oxide (La2O3) nanostructures, with a reaction time of 6 h at 100 °C. The research on Ce‐substituted La2O3’s morphology, particle size, band gap, and photocatalytic efficacy are affected by calcination temperature. The powder X‐ray diffraction pattern of Ce‐added La2O3 nanoparticles reveals their hexagonal shape. Field emission scanning electron microscopy is used to study the morphology of freshly produced nanoparticles. The elements in the synthesized and calcined samples were proven to exist by energy dispersive X‐ray analysis. La2O3 samples synthesized at room temperature and calcined at 300 and 600 °C are calculated to have band gap energies of 3.1, 3.0, and 2.9 eV, respectively through UV–visible spectroscopic analysis. The photoluminescence's analysis yields the exactness in activity of photo‐catalyst. It's possible to match the broad peak around 439 and 1045 cm−1 with the O─H vibration.