Solvothermal synthesis of hierarchically porous CeO2 nanopalm leaves and their photocatalytic properties

Abstract

Hierarchically porous CeCO3OH palm leaves were synthesized by using a facile solvothermal method at 180 A degrees C utilizing cerium nitrate and ethylene glycol. Polycrystalline CeO2 palm leaves were obtained from the thermal decomposition-oxidation process of the CeCO3OH nanostructures. CeCO3OH and CeO2 palm leaves were characterized by X-ray diffraction pattern, scanning electron microscopy image, energy dispersive X-ray analyses, and ultraviolet (UV)-visible spectroscopy images. The CeO2 palm leaves exhibited a significant photocatalytic performance in degrading azo dye acid orange II in an aqueous solution under an UV radiation. The formation mechanisms of the CeCO3OH/CeO2 nanostructures were described on the basis of the experimental results.