Influence of the cerium-doped Fe2O3 on structural and morphological properties for enhanced photocatalytic performance

In this study, pure and Ce-doped Fe2O3 nanoparticles were prepared using the sol-gel technique, and the microstructural, morphological, electrical, and photocatalytic activities were studied. Here, these prepared samples were characterized by XRD, FTIR, HR-TEM, and SEM) with EDAX. The XRD pattern demonstrates that the Fe2O3 nanorods are highly crystalline, and Ce ions were properly incorporated into the Fe2O3 lattice. SEM images are to facilitate increasing Ce doping, nanorods, and nanosphere-like structures smooth Fe2O3 nanorods have appeared. The lattice spacing growth with SAED pattern along the direction plane [018] was measured to be roughly 0.21 nm, and element mapping using EDX analysis is observed to the distribution of Fe, Ce & O elements. The functional groups and chemical interactions of Ce-substituted Fe2O3 samples were measured using FTIR spectroscopy. In particular, a novel photocatalytic activity of the products was considered using methylene blue. The findings suggest that Ce-doped Fe2O3 products have greater MB reduction efficiency than undoped Fe2O3.