Improved photocatalytic activity of Ce-doped NiO nanoparticles against methylene blue and rhodamine B dyes

doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-4985915/v1

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Improved photocatalytic activity of Ce-doped NiO nanoparticles against methylene blue and rhodamine B dyes

https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-4985915/v1

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The current study intended to investigate the photocatalytic efficiency of synthesised pure and Ce-doped NiO nanoparticles for the degradation of organic contaminants, particularly Methylene blue and Rhodamine B dyes. Initially, the co precipitation method was used to synthesize these nanoparticles.The size of the crystallites was determined using X-ray diffraction analysis,which also verified that the prepared nanoparticles included a single cubic phase. In addition, several characterisation techniques were used to assess the band gap energy, functional group, phase identification, shape, surface area, and oxidation states of the synthesised nanoparticles' elements. These techniques included UV-vis, FT-IR,FESEM, TEM, BET, and XPS. It was demonstrated that Ce-doped NiO nanoparticles had a 98% and 79% degradation efficiency for MB and RhB dyes respectively.

Ce doped

photocatalysts

visible light

RhB dye

Nano particles are increasingly gaining more interest in the scientific community due to their unique physical and chemical properties that distinguish from enormous scale sources. [1]. Nano device research has shown a strong interest in metal-oxide nanoparticles. Nickel oxide (NiO) is a metal oxide that has been utilised in many different applications, including catalysts, sensors, optoelectronics, supercapacitors and electrodes for lithium-ion batteries. This is due to its unique electrical, thermal, and optical properties. Large band gap, inexpensive, and extremely resistant to heat and chemicals are some of the qualities of NiO and also it is a p-type semiconductor. [2]. A Ni atom represents the 4b sites while an O atom covers the 4a sites in NiO nanoparticles, which are an anti-ferromagnetic semiconductor. Their crystalline structure is cubic and of the Sodium Chloride type. Furthermore, non-stoichiometry in nickel oxide is caused by deficiencies at Ni²⁺ sites and O²⁻interstitials, as well as by the introduction of extra ions that lower the compound's resistivity and induce p-type conduction. [3]. It is thought that NiO is the perfect semiconductor for hole-type conductivity because of its cubic rock salt structure and lattice parameter of 0.4195 nm [4]. The synthesis of NiO nanoparticles was accomplished using a wide range of synthesis techniques in the literature. such as the solvothermal method [5], combustion method [6], hydrothermal method [7], sol-gel method [8], coprecipitation method [9] etc. The size, distribution, and shape of the synthesized nanoparticles can all be regulated with the assistance of the co precipitation technique. [10].

Nowadays, the most significant threat to our ecosystem is water contamination. The conversion of this problem was substantially assisted by the metal oxide. ZnO, TiO₂, and SnO₂ are examples of metal oxides that are important photocatalysts. [11,12]. But these days, studies also concentrate on p-type semiconductors as dye degradation catalysts, such as NiO, FeO, and CuO. [13]. A wide range of artificial dyes are employed in numerous industries, including food, paper and textile industries, cosmetic dyeing, etc. Both marine life and terrestrial life are negatively impacted by the dye that is taken from industrial sources. Rhodamine B and Methylene blue dye are the two most commonly used dyes to colour food pink out of all of them. Multiple investigations revealed that the primary causes of rat cancer were the dyes methylene blue and rhodamine B. This dye can lead to a number of health problems, including irritation of the eyes and skin conditions [14]. Rhodamine B and Methylene blue dyes are employed in dye laser materials because of their high durability. Consequently, utilising a photocatalytic method of degradation is required, considering the adverse effects of dyes like MB and RhB. The technique of doping metal oxide nanoparticles improves their optical and structural characteristics. By doping NiO nanoparticles, their electrical, catalytic, optical, structural, and magnetic properties could be altered to satisfy specific requirements. Because of the conductive, magnetic, electrical, electrochemical, and luminous properties of rare earth element ions, doping the host lattice attracted the interest of numerous researchers. In spite of their greater ionic radius, rare earth elements have strong conductivity qualities that make them suitable for usage as dopants in oxide systems [15,16]. Ions of distinct rare earth elements, like Sm, Nd, La, Pr, Ce, Gd, etc., are unique from one another because of their half-filled shell containing 7 f electrons. [17]. Due to the highly localised incomplete filling of the 4f orbitals, which are sheltered by the 5s2 and 5p6 orbitals that are located in the outer shell, rare earth metals have demonstrated strong conductivity. Many investigators investigated the degradation of various water contaminants using Ce-doped metal oxide. Utilising the combustion approach, Jimkeli Singh and Chinna Muthu synthesised Ce-doped CuO nanoparticles, and they showed that these materials had high photocatalytic activity for dyes like MB and RhB. 4%Ce doped nanoparticles provided the most significant degradation activity for RhB (95.39%) and MB (87.72%), respectively. [18]. Keerthana et al. (2021) investigated the impact of Ce as a photocatalyst in CuFe2O4. It was proposed that 2% Ce-doped CuFe2O4 nanoparticles showed significant particle activity by 88% degradation of RhB, according to the shift in the band gap energy and morphology [19]. In addition to this, researchers concentrated on employing transition metal-doped NiO nanoparticles to remove contaminants from water. According to Shakil et al. (2023), Rhodamine B was destroyed up to 97% in 140 minutes by Cd–Ag doped NiO made using the sol-gel technique [20]. The synthesis of Fe-doped NiO was carried out via the coprecipitation method, as reported by Minisha et al. (2023). They discovered that after 45 minutes, 8% Fe-doped NiO nanoparticles may degrade up to 99% of the Rhodamine B dye [21]. Shkir et al. synthesised the spherically-shaped Co-doped NiO nanoparticles in 2021. They discovered that the nanoparticles of 5% Co-doped NiO demonstrated 83% methylene blue dye degradation [22]. No research team has investigated into utilising Cerium as a dopant in NiO nanoparticles for applying dyes like Rhodamine-B and Methylene blue. This study consequently demonstrated the photo catalytic activity of 1,3, and 5% Ce-doped NiO nanoparticles and of pure NiO nanoparticles. It was shown that 5% Ce-doped NiO nanoparticles led to a 98% and 79% degradation of MB and RhB respectively. which assisted in the environmental remediation process. This research reveals importants information regarding the ways in which these nanoparticles are employed to remove pollutants from the environment. This study will provide ideas for researchers in related fields.

2.1. Materials used

Nickel nitrate hexa hydrate(Ni(NO₃)₂.6H₂O, Cerium(III) chloride heptahydrate (CeCl₃.7H₂O) (99%),hydrogen peroxide, ferric chloride ,sulfuric acid,sodium hydroxide in pellets, Wagner’s solution, ascorbic acid, Polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) (98%), distilled water, rhodamine B, and methylene blue dye were bought from Loba Chem Pvt. Ltd. Analytical grade reagents and substances were all employed in the current study.

2.3. Synthesis of pure and Ce doped NiO nanoparticles

The co precipitation approach was used to synthesise the pure NiO and the 1,3% and 5% Ce-doped NiO nanoparticles. 0.1M of nickel nitrate hexa hydrate was weighed, dissolved in water for 50 minutes, and then 0.5 g of PVP was mixed in order to synthesize pure NiO nanoparticles. In order to maintain pH at 12, a precipitating agent of 2 M NaOH solution was utilised. As soon as the reaction mixture was progressively dropped with a 2 M NaOH solution, the precipitation formed (pH = 12). The same procedure was used to synthesize Ce-doped NiO nanoparticles, and a dopant of Cerium (III) chloride hepta hydrate (1,3, and 5%) was included in the mixture of the reaction. The reaction solution was agitated at 70°C for 2 hours for every sample. To eliminate the contaminants, distilled water and ethanol were used to wash the produced residue two or three times. The resulting nanoparticles were then calcined for three hours at 400°C. Figure 1 illustrated the experimental process for synthesising Cerium doped NiO nanoparticles.

2.4. Photocatalytic set up

Rhodamine B and Methylene blue (10 ppm/1000 ml) dyes were used to measure the photocatalytic activity of NiO, 1 3 and 5% Ce-doped NiO nanoparticles under UV-visible light (125 W) and in neutral pH. Using a UV light as a source situated 30 mm above the response, the activity was examined in a dark, constructed chamber. About 15–20 µl of H₂O₂ were added to complete the photocatalytic process. The 100 millilitre dye solutions were mixed with varying amounts of nanoparticles acting as catalysts (10, 25, and 50 mg). Following that the solution mixture was kept inside the chamber for 60 mins. At a regular time interval of 15 minutes the absorbnce of MB and RhB at wavelengths of 668 and 554nm.The percentage of degradation efficiency is calculated by using the following formula.

% Degradation = Ao – A/ Ao

The redox reaction is mainly accountable for the photocatalytic activity of the catalyst. The deterioration rate of the dye was shown to increase swith an increase in the catalyst concentration (10–50 mg/100 ml).

3.1.XRD analysis

Figure 1 displays the crystalline and structural information of Cerium doped NiO nanoparticles at 400°C. At different concentrations, the data was obtained. It has been shown that the cubic (fcc) crystal structure of these nanoparticles is represented by the index peaks in the range of 2θ, which are known as (111), (200), (220), (311), and (222) plane [23,24]. The above graph shows that there are no other peaks that we have found, indicating that the resulting nanoparticles are pure. The data that has been obtained has been following the typical pattern. (JCPDS # 47–1049). It is evident that the size of the nanoparticles increases and the peak intensity falls with an increase in cerium content. Considering that growth rate rises with concentration, this stimulation is brought about by a weakening of the internal structure. The Scherrer equation can be used to determine the size of nanoparticles. Pure NiO nanoparticles have been measured to have a size of 26.1 nm. and the concentrations of 1–5% the size of Ce-doped NiO-NPs ranges from 17.5–35.5 nm.

3.2. Morphological analysis

To determine the elemental information and shape of raw and Cerium doped NiO NPs, scanning electron microscopy and EDAX were employed. (Fig. 2). Pure NiO nanoparticles had a spherical and homogeneous surface shape; however, when Ce was added as a dopant, the spherical shape changed to that of a sponge with agglomerated non-uniform size. [25]. When Ce was added, the strain's dopant expansion stopped the crystal's growth, resulting in smaller pure NiO grains. The quantitative elemental composition of the Ce-doped NiO and NiO nanostructures was analysed using EDAX spectroscopy. Pure NiO, 1,3%, and 5% Ce-doped nanoparticle composition analyses were displayed by the EDAX. (Fig. ). The outer appearance did not have any peaks that matched the other characteristics. On the other hand, the additional peaks of Cerium (Ce) for EDAX observation originated the very beginnings of synthesis. [26,27]. These findings confirmed that Ni, O, and Ce were present in the synthesised nanoparticles. Both pure NiO and Ce-doped NiO nanoparticles were produced in substantial amounts, and the average particle size of the prepared nanoparticle is measured using TEM analysis. It was determined that the particle sizes of the pure NiO and the 1,3 and 5% Cerium doped NiO NPs were around 25, 24, and 10 nm, respectively (Fig. 2d,2e). The particle size estimated by TEM investigation was discovered must be in good accordance with XRD studies.

3.3. FTIR spectroscopy

The FTIR spectra of NiO and Ce doped NiO NPs were observed, as shown in Fig. 3(a). in the region of 4000 to 400 cm^− 1. The stretching and bending vibrations of -OH, the large peak at 3431 and 1643 cm^− 1, which are brought on by the moisture that has been absorbed on the catalyst surface. [28, 29]. The broad absorption bands at 2871–3323 cm^− 1 resulting from H-O-H or N-H stretching are observed when there is water present on the NiO surface. According to the band width, it appears that the NiO powder is crystilized and contains nanocrystals. The stretching vibration mode of Ni-O is influence the peaks located between 745 and 480 cm^− 1. Fingerprint regions containing bending vibrations of molecules are responsible for the absorption bands found at 1500–1400 cm^− 1.At last, the band appears in the 500–450 cm^− 1 region corresponding to the stretching vibration of Cerium doped Nickel Oxide.As the concentration of cerium is exceeded, the observations show that the peaks' intensity rises. [30].

3.4. Optical studies

Through UV-Vis spectroscopy, the optical properties of both pure and Ce-doped NiO were examined. Figure 3(b) displays the UV-Vis spectra of the Ce-doped NiO and pure NiO photocatalyst. The resulting figure shows that the concentration of Ce in NiO metal has increased, which is suggestive to change in surface shape. Because of the bigger particles produced by the surface asperity of the doped metal, enhance the light scattering. XRD test also confirmed the increase in crystallite size. The bandgap value of photocatalysts was determined by using Tauc's equation. Figure 3(c) illustrates the bandgap value obtained by extrapolating the linear section of a graph of hv vs (αhν)2. The obtained bandgap value for NiO, 1%Ce-NiO, 3%Ce-NiO and 5%Ce-NiO photocatalysts are 3.17, 3.11, 2.88 and 2.65 eV correspondingly. The bandgap value decreases as the concentration of Cerium in NiO nanoparticles rises. Previous investigations reported this kind of decrease in bandgap values [31,32]. One possible explanation for the drop in the band gap value of Ce-doped metal is the replacement of ions, specifically Ce²⁺ and Ni²⁺, in the host semiconductor lattice (NiO). Two strong emission peaks can be seen at 380 nm and 534 nm on the PL graph of pure and Ce doped NiO.[33–35] (Fig. 3d). The strong peak observed at 534 nm is caused by band edge emissions. The decrease in radiative recombination is the reason for the lower peak intensities in Cerium doped NiO samples as compared to bare NiO samples. Higher photocatalytic efficiency can be achieved through lower recombination, which also results in weaker photoluminescence signals.

3.5. Surface area by BET analysis

The BET nitrogen absorption test was used to estimate the surface area of the pure and doped NiO nanoparticles. (Fig. 4a). The adsorption isotherm was also used to determine the particle surface area. This clearly demonstrates the type IV isotherm, which may be related to the samples mesoporous structure. [36–39]. It has been computed that the surface area values of the NiO and 5% Ce-NiO samples are 45.5 m²/g and 94.1 m²/g, respectively (Fig. 4b). The typical, uniform pore size distributions of NiO and 5-Ce-NiO were 23.7 nm and 33.5 nm, respectively, The BJH approach provided pore volume distribution values of 0.0181 cm3/g and 0.3225 cm3/g, respectively.

3.6. XPS analysis

XPS spectroscopic research has been used to confirm the effect of Ce doping on the valence state of NiO. Figure 4c displays the XPS spectrum of 5% cerium doped NiO samples, which shows that Ni, Ce, and O are present. Figure 4d represents the results of additional analysis of the high-resolution XPS spectra. The 2p3/2 and 2p1/2 peaks are responsible for the Ni 2p signals at 953.1 eV and 975.3 eV, respectively. [40]. Figure 4e exhibits the matching 2p core level XPS spectrum of the Ce in the doped sample. Ce 2p signals are seen in the recorded spectrum at 933.9 and 953.2 eV, which correspond to Ce 2p3/2 and Ce 2p1/2, respectively. Figure 4f displays the O1s spectrum, with the peaks at 531.2 and 529.3 eV perhaps corresponding to the oxygen ions that disappear from the Ce-doped NiO. [41].

3.7. Photocatalytic studies

MB and RhB dye photocatalytic degradation tests were conducted as a test reaction to estimate the photocatalytic performance of the prepared sample towards the decomposition of organic pollutants. The absorbance of MB at 668 nm and RhB at 554 nm was used to observe the photocatalytic degradation process. Figure 5(a-d) displays the absorption spectra of MB and RhB dyes in the presence of sunlight and all prepared samples, respectively. Absorption spectra show that the absorption decreases with time. The dyes have been degraded by sunlight and photocatalyst as seen by the decrease in dye absorption band intensities. An extended conjugated π system within a chromophore may be the cause of the distinctive absorption band observed in MB at approximately 668 nm. The absorption band at 668 nm decreased, indicating that the conjugated π bond connection inside the MB molecule structure had been destroyed [42]. The absorption data were used to compute the degradation efficiency, and the resulting plot is displayed in Fig. 6(a & b). The photocatalytic degradation efficiency of MB in the presence of 5%-Ce-NiO photocatalyst was 98% in 60 minutes, compared to 40% in bare NiO. This is most likely because the Ce dopant increases the amount of active sites in the photocatalyst. After 60 minutes, using 5% Ce doped NiO-NPs as a photocatalyst, the percentage of RB dye degradation was approximately 78%. This is probably because cerium ions are incorporated into the NiO-NPs lattice, and because of their large energy band, they decrease electron-hole pair recombination. As a result, there are sufficient of free electrons and holes available to form free radical ions. [43]. The reaction kinetics was discovered to be pseudo-first-order based on the results that were obtained. Figure 6 (c & d) shows the linear plot of Ln(Ct C0) versus irradiation time. The 5%-Ce-NiO photocatalyst's maximum rate constant towards MB dye was discovered to be approximately k = 0.7681 min-1. The rate constants for each photocatalyst sample were also displayed in Table 1. In order to determine the efficiency of a photocatalyst its reusability is essential. After the deterioration process, the catalyst was taken out of the reaction media and used in a later study to look into whether it could be reused. Figure 7(a & b) illustrates the reusability study of 5% Ce doped NiO and NiO photocatalysts degraded the MB and RhB. The removal efficiency showed that after five runs, it lost only 2–3% of its initial values. For the photocatalytic reaction, multiple runs showed a small deviation in the degradation of the MB and RhB. According to this, Ce − NiO nanocomposites show good stability and reusability, suggesting that they could be an excellent option for actual photocatalysis applications. [44]. Lastly, the photocatalytic activity findings for the current catalyst were contrasted with those of various different catalysts in order to eliminate organic pollution. [45–49]. (Table 2). As evidenced, the current photocatalyst, 5%Ce-doped NiO-NPs, exhibits a superior degradation percentage in a short period of time.

3.7.1. Effect of pH

In order to get the ideal pH ranges, the 5% Ce-NiO adsorption procedure was examined at pH levels of 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11 under the conditions of C0 = 40 mg/L for MB, and C0 = 30 mg/L, for RhB (Fig. 8a). It is evident that MB and RhB dyes have an optimal adsorption capacity that increases with increasing pH levels. The MB and RhB dyes (Fig. 8a) exhibited the maximum adsorption capabilities at pH values of 5 and 7, respectively. The electrostatic interactions between the positive charge of the MB and RhB dyes and the negative charge on the 5%Ce-NiO surface therefore increase at alkaline pH values, increasing the adsorption capacity. The most effective pH values for the MB and RhB dyes at 5%Ce-NiO were found to be 5 and 7, respectively.

3.7.2. Effect of Concentration

One important factor in adsorption study is concentration. Concentration variations obviously serve as a basis for optimisation since they have a significant effect on adsorption kinetics and equilibrium. For this, 100 mL of a solution containing 10–50 mg/L MB and RhB was mixed with 5 mg of photocatalyst, and the mixture was kept at a constant pH of 7 for 30 minutes at 30°C. As can be observed in Fig. 8b, the MB dye's adsorption capability increases as the dye concentration is raised from 10 to 40 mg/L with an extremely steep slope. But from 40 to 50 mg/L, the slope stays virtually constant, which could be explained by diffusion problems brought on by the accumulation of dye molecules. Furthermore, Fig. 8b shows the adsorption capacity of RhB. Empirical evidence indicates that the adsorption capacity rises first at lower concentrations, (10–30 mg/L) but then declines when the concentration is increased further, from 30 to 50 mg/L. For the dyes MB and RhB, the maximum adsorptions were 40 mg/L and 30 mg/L, respectively. Consequently, 40 mg/L of 5% Ce-NiO is the ideal concentration for MB, whereas 30 mg/L is the ideal concentration for RhB.

3.7.3. Effect of Catalyst Dosages

The impact of this parameter on the absorption capacity was investigated at various adsorbent dosages (0.001 g–0.01 g), C0 = 40 mg/L for MB dye and C0 = 30 mg/L for RhB. The impact of various adsorbent doses on the adsorption capacity of 5% Ce-NiO is exhibit in Fig. 8c. When the dose of the adsorbent is increased for MB (Fig. 8c), the amount of adsorption decreases, but for RhB (Fig. 6d), it increases up to 0.007 g. For the MB and RhB dyes, the highest adsorption happened at adsorbent doses of 0.001 g and 0.007 g, respectively. The adsorption may decrease due to the adsorbent particles aggregating and the reduced surface area of the adsorbent creating smaller empty space. Consequently, for methylene blue and rhodamine B, the ideal adsorption was obtained at 0.001 and 0.007 g, respectively.

3.7.4. Effect of radical Scavenger

The photodegradation mechanism of 5%Ce-NiO in MB and RhB was understood through the use of scavenger tests. More significant active species, such as superoxide radicals (BQ), holes (EDTA), and hydroxyl radicals (TBA), are frequently indicated by higher degradation efficiencies in the degradation system. The photocatalytic activity of the 5%Ce-NiO nanoparticles in MB and RhB was entirely reduced by the addition of the TBA scavenger, as can be seen in Fig. 8d, but no further changes were seen in the absence of a scavenger[50]. These results indicate that the degradation of both dyes is mostly caused by the hydroxyl radical. The efficiency of photocatalytic degradation was somewhat reduced when BQ scavengers were added, suggesting that superoxide radical scavengers are also necessary for the degradation of methylene blue and rhodamine B. Both dyes showed a slight decrease in degradation efficiency when exposed to a hole scavenger. According to these analyses, a scavenger is present in the MB degradation process at a relatively higher concentration than the RhB dye. Below is the portion that explains the mechanism underlying these results. [51]. The scavenger test has verified that superoxide and hydroxyl radicals perform a major role in the photocatalytic process.

3.7.5. Mechanism for photocatalytic activity

Fig. 9 depicts a possible dye degradation mechanism of Ce-NiO towards both dyes when exposed to UV light. Cerium is altered on the surface of the NiO when exposed to UV radiation, which also produces electrons (e) and holes (h), it also results in the creation of trapped electrons and extremely reactive OH- and O2-species. There are holes in the valence band as a result of the electrons moving from the valence band to the conduction band. The photodegradation mechanism is discussed below. After photoexcitation of Ce and NiO, electrons and holes are produced in the first stage. After that, the water ionises to produce H + and OH-. After formation, the OH- ion is oxidised to OH*, and H⁺ protonates O2* to HO2*. This radical contributes to the scavenging of one electron, which forms HO2. Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) is created when this ion joines together with a proton. Subsequently, an electron reacts with the H₂O₂ molecule to produce the OH* radical, This results in the formation of three active species: e, h, and OH*. [52].

In summary, easy, safe, and financially sustainable co-precipitation method has been designed for the synthesis of NiO nanoparticles and Ce doped NiO nanoparticles. The XRD pattern showed that the size of the nanoparticles increased with an increase in cerium content. When the concentration was 1%, the FESEM pictures showed cubic shapes; when the concentration was 3% or 5%, the morphologies were spherical. The doping of Ce into NiO nanoparticles was investigated using UV-DRS, XRD, TEM, and EDX techniques. Additionally, it was evident from the experimental data that Ce and NiO nanoparticles interact strongly. When exposed to UV light, the photocatalytic activity of Ce-doped NiO was tested against the dyes MB and RhB. subsequently, it was shown how various operational parameters, including pH, concentration, doses of catalysts, and radical scavengers, affected the photocatalytic degradation of MB and RhB under UV light irradiation. These investigations showed that under dark conditions, the concentration of Ce-doped NiO nanoparticles increases the adsorption of MB and RhB dye molecules. The 5%-Ce-NiO nanophotocatalyst demonstrated a degradation efficiency of 79% and 98% towards RhB and MB, respectively, under 60 minutes of UV exposure. Superoxide and hydroxyl radicals have a significant impact on the photocatalytic degradation process. Therefore, the RhB and MB dyes in wastewater may be effectively degraded by the Ce doped NiO photocatalyst.

Conflicts of interest

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest regarding the research work reported in this manuscript.

Author contributions

A.Kitan and G.Hari Hara Priya : study conceptualization and writing (original draft) the manuscript S.Jagan Raj and L.Mayavan : data curation, formal analysis and writing (review & editing).

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, upon reasonable request.

Financial interest

The authors have no relevant financial or non-financial interests to disclose.

Ethical approval

The authors declare that there are no human cells and tissues are used in this manuscript.

Acknowledgement

The authors are grateful to Panimalar Engineering College, Chennai- 600 123, Tamilnadu, India.

for providing the facilities to conduct the research work.

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Table 1. Photocatalytic activity parameters of pure and Ce doped NiO photocatalyst samples

Samples	Rate constant of MB		Rate constant of RhB		MB Degradation efficiency (%)	RB Degradation efficiency (%)
Samples	K (h^-1) min^-1	R²	K (h^-1) min^-1	R²	MB Degradation efficiency (%)	RB Degradation efficiency (%)
NiO	0.0913	0.997	0.0276	0.999	41	27
1-Ce-NiO	0.2121	0.987	0.1121	0.985	56	41
3-Ce-NiO	0.4541	0.985	0.2239	0.981	72	56
5-Ce-NiO	0.7681	0.999	0.3498	0987	99	78

Table 2. A comparison of photodegradation of dyes between present work and already reported doped NiO based materials.

Catalyst	Light source	Dye	Time (min)	Degradation (%)	Ref.
Cu doped NiO NPs	Visible	EBT and MB	90	51	[36]
Cu doped NiO NPs	Sun light	MB	60	89	[37]
Cu doped NiO NPs	Visible	Alizarin red	60	90	[38]
Mn doped NiO NPs	UV light	MB	210	92	[39]
Co doped NiO NPs	Visible	MB	50	89	[40]
5 %Ce doped NiO NPs	UV light	MB	60	99	This work
5 %Ce doped NiO NPs	UV light	RhB	60	78	This work

No competing interests reported.

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Improved photocatalytic activity of Ce-doped NiO nanoparticles against methylene blue and rhodamine B dyes

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Abstract

Figures

1. Introduction

2. Experimental Procedure

2.1. Materials used

2.3. Synthesis of pure and Ce doped NiO nanoparticles

2.4. Photocatalytic set up

3. Results and discussion

3.1.XRD analysis

3.2. Morphological analysis

3.3. FTIR spectroscopy

3.4. Optical studies

3.5. Surface area by BET analysis

3.6. XPS analysis

3.7. Photocatalytic studies

3.7.1. Effect of pH

3.7.2. Effect of Concentration

3.7.3. Effect of Catalyst Dosages

3.7.4. Effect of radical Scavenger

3.7.5. Mechanism for photocatalytic activity

4. Conclusions

Declarations

References

Tables

Additional Declarations

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