Dysprosium cerate nanostructures: facile synthesis, characterization, optical and photocatalytic properties

A facile approach was developed to prepare Dy2Ce2O7 nanostructures. Dy2Ce2O7 nanostructures were prepared by applying cerium(IV) ammonium nitrate and dysprosium nitrate as Ce and Dy precursors. It was found that the kind of connecting agent, space-filling template and chelating agent were significant factors for the control in shape and size. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), diffuse reflectance UV-vis spectroscopy (DR-UV-vis), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL) and energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis (EDX) techniques were applied to characterize the Dy2Ce2O7 nanostructures and investigate their optical characteristics. To examine the photocatalytic activity of as-produced Dy2Ce2O7 nanostructures, the photocatalytic degradation of erythrosine dye as water pollutant was carried out. The results of the photocatalytic investigations suggest as-obtained nano-sized Dy2Ce2O7 product as a new, proper and efficient candidate for photocatalytic usages under UV illumination.