Physical, Optical and Photochemical Properties of CeO2 Nanoparticles Synthesized by Solution Combustion Method

Cerium oxide (CeO 2 ) nanoparticles were successfully synthesized by solution combustion method using cerium nitrate and urea. The prepared sample was characterized by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infra-red Spectroscopy (FTIR), Ultraviolet (UV) and Photoluminescence (PL), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM), High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscope (HRTEM), Thermogravimetric-Differential Thermal Analysis (TG-DTA) and photocatalytic measurements. The XRD results confirmed that the synthesized nanocrystalline CeO 2 samples have cubic structure with average grain size about 12, 18 and 26 nm (as prepared at 120 °C, sintered at 300 °C and sintered at 600 °C respectively). The HRTEM results confirmed that the synthesized nanoparticles have good polycrystalline nature. In the PL spectra, a strong and broad emission band was observed at 425 nm due to the presence of blue shift in the visible region. The TEM results revealed that the synthesized CeO 2 nanoparticles were sphere shaped particles of size in the range 10–15 nm. The degradation of methylene blue catalysed by CeO 2 nanoparticles was studied under visible light irradiation. The maximum degradation was obtained with 1.0 g/L CeO 2 at pH 11 within 5 hours.