New insight in photocatalytic degradation of textile dyes over CeO2/Ce2S3 composite

Cerium oxide, sulfide and composites of cerium sulfide-cerium oxide were prepared by co-precipitation technique. The fabricated samples were characterized by XRD. The photocatalytic degradation of synthesized samples was made to check their catalytic performance. The results of photocatalytic activity verified that 94% degradation of the rhodamine B dye took place in presence of catalyst (composite of cerium oxide/sulfide) and UV–visible irradiation, whereas in catalyst absence, percentage degradation of rhodamine B dye was less than 15% at the end of 120 min. The composite of cerium oxide/sulfide showed greater photo degradation (94%) with rhodamine B dye under UV irradiation than cerium oxide (80%) and cerium sulfide (71%). Percentage degradation of composite materials was greater due to the band gap because photo catalysis depends upon the band gap energy. Band gap energy for composite of cerium oxide/sulfide may be calculated by Tauc relationship. Photo degradation reaction obeyed the rules of pseudo-first-order kinetic reaction.