Nd2O3 nanostructures: Simple synthesis, characterization and its photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue

Pure hexagonal Nd2O3 nanostructures have been synthesized via a simple precipitation way. For the first time, nanostructured Nd2O3 was produced with utilizing triethylenetetramine as a new precipitant and neodymium nitrate as a neodymium source. The analyses of XRD, FESEM, FT-IR, TEM, EDX, BET and DR-UV vis were applied to characterize the as-prepared nanostructured Nd2O3. To evaluate the influence of various capping agents on the morphology, grain size and photocatalytic performance of Nd2O3, several experiments were performed. The results demonstrated that the kind of capping agent has substantial impact on the shape, grain size and photocatalytic performance of Nd2O3. In addition, application of the synthesized Nd2O3 samples as photocatalyst by photodegradation of methylene blue contaminant under ultraviolet illumination was investigated. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.