Structural and Functional Behaviour of Ce-Doped Wide-Bandgap Semiconductors for Photo-Catalytic Applications

Abstract

Increasing the photocatalytic efficiency of earth-abundant wide-bandgap semiconductors is of high interest for the development of cheap but effective light-driven chemical conversion processes. In this study, the coupling of ZnO and TiO2 with low contents of the rare-earth Ce species aimed to assess the photo-catalytic performance of the two semiconductors (SC). Structural and optical characterizations were performed to estimate the effect of the different interactions between Zn2+, Ti4+ and Ce4+ ions, and how the photo-responsive behaviour of Ce-Ti and Ce-Zn composites was affected. Therefore, photo-catalytic tests were performed for all Ce-modified SC to assess both their photo-oxidative and photo-reductive properties. Amongst all the tested materials, only Zn-based samples resulted in being suitable for the photo-oxidation of the methylene blue (MB) organic pollutant in a synthetic-dependent fashion.

Analysis of defects dominating carrier recombination in CeO2 single crystal for photocatalytic applications

“…Cerium oxide (CeO 2 ) has been extensively studied as a compelling semiconductor, and diverse methodologies have been employed to enhance its performance in CO or CO 2 reduction, photoelectrocatalytic, and heterogeneous catalytic applications [1][2][3]. These applications are possible owing to its fluorite structure and a wide band gap of 3.2 eV (absorption edge: approximately 387 nm) [4][5][6]. Hydrothermal and facile sonochemical synthesis are widely used to fabricate cells, defect passivation not only of the surface but also of the interface is still being developed to improve efficiency [10][11][12][13].…”

Exploring the Potential and Concerns of Nanostructured Photocatalysts and Doped Wide-Bandgap Semiconductors

“…These energy levels enable the absorption of light in a wider range of wavelengths, making doped widebandgap semiconductors ideal for applications involving solar energy conversion. 4 The incorporation of dopants into wide-bandgap semiconductors introduces additional functionalities and enhances their optoelectronic properties. For instance, the doping of titanium dioxide with nitrogen or other elements can extend its light absorption into the visible range, thereby increasing its efficiency in solar energy conversion.…”