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Sol–Gel Synthesis and Photocatalytic Activity of CeO 2 /TiO 2 Nanocomposites
Author(s) -
Yang Huaming,
Zhang Ke,
Shi Rongrong,
Tang Aidong
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
journal of the american ceramic society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.9
H-Index - 196
eISSN - 1551-2916
pISSN - 0002-7820
DOI - 10.1111/j.1551-2916.2007.01540.x
Subject(s) - thermogravimetric analysis , x ray photoelectron spectroscopy , photocatalysis , materials science , photodegradation , differential thermal analysis , methyl orange , nanocomposite , sol gel , transmission electron microscopy , chemical engineering , nuclear chemistry , high resolution transmission electron microscopy , catalysis , diffraction , composite material , nanotechnology , chemistry , organic chemistry , optics , engineering , physics
Uniform CeO 2 /TiO 2 composite nanoparticles with different Ce/Ti molar ratios have been successfully synthesized via the sol–gel method. The samples were characterized using differential thermal analysis (DTA), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The surface state analysis by means of X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) shows that the Ti element mainly exists as a chemical state of Ti 4+ , while the Ce element exists as a mixture of Ce 3+ and Ce 4+ oxidation states. The photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange (MeO) in CeO 2 /TiO 2 suspension was investigated. The results indicate that the CeO 2 /TiO 2 nanocomposites show higher photocatalytic activity than pure TiO 2 . Photodegradation of MeO can be improved by increasing the Ce/Ti molar ratio in the initial 15 min.