Developed and characterization of a novel Cd doped CeO₂ nanofilm and application of methyl orange removed by photodegradation

Abstract

Cerium oxide (CeO2) films doped with cadmium (Cd) were synthesized employing the ultrasonic spray pyrolysis technique (USP). The structural, surface, and optical properties of the prepared Cd-doped CeO2 films were also investigated. All films were polycrystalline, exhibiting as cubic fluorite structure. In addition, the optical bandgap obtained using the UV data ranged from 3.23 to 3.52 eV. Cd-doped CeO2 films exhibited Raman scattering, in which the multi-peak setting of the first optical longitudinal mode was observed, indicated the Raman shift of the characteristic peak in the similar to 461 cm(-1) range. In addition, the photodegradation capacities of Cd-doped CeO2 films were investigated for the removal of pesticides that pollute human and environmental health. As a result, proposed Cd-doped CeO2 thin films show very high (approximate 80%) photocatalytic activity for removing important pollutants, such as methyl orange dyestuff. Consequently, the CeO2 film doped with Cd can be readily reused for five cycles without a notable alteration in photocatalytic activity.