Rapid microwave hydrothermal synthesis of rare Earth-modified ZnO photocatalysts: Enhanced activity and comprehensive structural analysis

13 pages, 13 figures, 5 tables

Detalhes bibliográficos
Autores: Bazta, Otman, Ramos-Justicia, J.F., Urbieta, Ana, Trasobares, Susana, Fernández, Paloma, Calvino, Jose Juan, Hungría, Ana Belén
Formato: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2025
País:España
Recursos:Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)
Repositorio:DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC
OAI Identifier:oai:digital.csic.es:10261/411558
Acesso em linha:http://hdl.handle.net/10261/411558
https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/105015874195
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palavra-chave:Charge separation efficiency
Microwave-assisted hydrothermal synthesis
Nanostructured photocatalysts
Rare earth modification
Surface decoration
ZnO nanosheets
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spelling Rapid microwave hydrothermal synthesis of rare Earth-modified ZnO photocatalysts: Enhanced activity and comprehensive structural analysisBazta, OtmanRamos-Justicia, J.F.Urbieta, AnaTrasobares, SusanaFernández, PalomaCalvino, Jose JuanHungría, Ana BelénCharge separation efficiencyMicrowave-assisted hydrothermal synthesisNanostructured photocatalystsRare earth modificationSurface decorationZnO nanosheets13 pages, 13 figures, 5 tablesThis study demonstrates that, under the specific synthesis conditions applied, the addition of rare earth ions (Ce³⁺, Y³⁺, Eu³⁺) to ZnO does not lead to their incorporation into the lattice as dopants but instead results in their surface decoration, as revealed by advanced nanoscale characterization. ZnO and rare earth-modified ZnO photocatalysts (ZnO:RE = ZnO:Eu, ZnO:Y, ZnO:Ce) with a rare earth (RE) concentration of 2 at.% were synthesized via a rapid and environmentally friendly microwave-assisted hydrothermal method. The effect of adding different RE elements on the structural, morphological, and photocatalytic properties of the samples was systematically investigated. A thorough characterization was conducted using X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), high-angle annular dark field (HAADF)-scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL) at various excitation wavelengths and temperatures. XRD analysis confirmed that all ZnO:RE samples retained the hexagonal wurtzite crystal structure of ZnO. FESEM images revealed that pure ZnO consisted of randomly distributed smooth nanosheets, while the addition of RE elements led to the formation of small particles dispersed over the nanosheet surfaces. A detailed structural analysis using STEM revealed that the rare earth elements formed structures decorating the surface of ZnO nanosheets rather than being fully incorporated into the ZnO lattice, indicating a dispersion of RE species over the ZnO matrix. This unique distribution significantly influenced the material's properties. The photocatalytic performance of the ZnO:RE samples was evaluated through the degradation of methylene blue (MB), demonstrating superior activity compared to pure ZnO and TiO<inf>2</inf>-P25. Among the modified samples, the cerium-modified ZnO (ZnO:Ce) exhibited the highest MB degradation efficiency. Furthermore, PL spectroscopy combined with TEM analysis provided critical insights into the relationship between defect characteristics and photocatalytic activity, offering a deeper understanding of the mechanisms driving performance enhancement. These findings highlight the potential of rare earth surface structures-ZnO nanosheets heterojunctions as a strategy for optimizing the photocatalytic properties of ZnO-based materials.Grant PID2022–142312NB-I00 funded by MICIU/AEI/10.13039/ 501100011033 and by ERDF/EU. This work has been partially financed by UCM under project PR3/23–30813. J. F. Ramos-Justicia acknowledges financial support from UCM-Banco Santander (Programa de ayudas de Contratos Predoctorales CT15/23).Peer reviewedElsevierMinisterio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (España)Universidad Complutense de MadridBanco SantanderBazta, Otman [0000-0002-8994-0458]#NODATA#Urbieta, Ana [0000-0002-3430-1990]#NODATA##NODATA##NODATA##NODATA#Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas [https://ror.org/02gfc7t72]202520252025info:eu-repo/semantics/articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501Publisher's versioninfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersionhttp://hdl.handle.net/10261/411558https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/105015874195reponame:DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSICinstname:Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)Inglés#PLACEHOLDER_PARENT_METADATA_VALUE#info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/AEI//PID2022–142312NB-I00https://doi.org/10.1016/j.surfin.2025.107657Síinfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessoai:digital.csic.es:10261/4115582026-05-22T06:33:51Z
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Rapid microwave hydrothermal synthesis of rare Earth-modified ZnO photocatalysts: Enhanced activity and comprehensive structural analysis
title Rapid microwave hydrothermal synthesis of rare Earth-modified ZnO photocatalysts: Enhanced activity and comprehensive structural analysis
spellingShingle Rapid microwave hydrothermal synthesis of rare Earth-modified ZnO photocatalysts: Enhanced activity and comprehensive structural analysis
Bazta, Otman
Charge separation efficiency
Microwave-assisted hydrothermal synthesis
Nanostructured photocatalysts
Rare earth modification
Surface decoration
ZnO nanosheets
title_short Rapid microwave hydrothermal synthesis of rare Earth-modified ZnO photocatalysts: Enhanced activity and comprehensive structural analysis
title_full Rapid microwave hydrothermal synthesis of rare Earth-modified ZnO photocatalysts: Enhanced activity and comprehensive structural analysis
title_fullStr Rapid microwave hydrothermal synthesis of rare Earth-modified ZnO photocatalysts: Enhanced activity and comprehensive structural analysis
title_full_unstemmed Rapid microwave hydrothermal synthesis of rare Earth-modified ZnO photocatalysts: Enhanced activity and comprehensive structural analysis
title_sort Rapid microwave hydrothermal synthesis of rare Earth-modified ZnO photocatalysts: Enhanced activity and comprehensive structural analysis
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Bazta, Otman
Ramos-Justicia, J.F.
Urbieta, Ana
Trasobares, Susana
Fernández, Paloma
Calvino, Jose Juan
Hungría, Ana Belén
author Bazta, Otman
author_facet Bazta, Otman
Ramos-Justicia, J.F.
Urbieta, Ana
Trasobares, Susana
Fernández, Paloma
Calvino, Jose Juan
Hungría, Ana Belén
author_role author
author2 Ramos-Justicia, J.F.
Urbieta, Ana
Trasobares, Susana
Fernández, Paloma
Calvino, Jose Juan
Hungría, Ana Belén
author2_role author
author
author
author
author
author
dc.contributor.none.fl_str_mv Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (España)
Universidad Complutense de Madrid
Banco Santander
Bazta, Otman [0000-0002-8994-0458]
#NODATA#
Urbieta, Ana [0000-0002-3430-1990]
#NODATA#
#NODATA#
#NODATA#
#NODATA#
Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas [https://ror.org/02gfc7t72]
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv Charge separation efficiency
Microwave-assisted hydrothermal synthesis
Nanostructured photocatalysts
Rare earth modification
Surface decoration
ZnO nanosheets
topic Charge separation efficiency
Microwave-assisted hydrothermal synthesis
Nanostructured photocatalysts
Rare earth modification
Surface decoration
ZnO nanosheets
description 13 pages, 13 figures, 5 tables
publishDate 2025
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2025
2025
2025
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/article
http://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501
Publisher's version
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
format article
status_str publishedVersion
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv http://hdl.handle.net/10261/411558
https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/105015874195
url http://hdl.handle.net/10261/411558
https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/105015874195
dc.language.none.fl_str_mv Inglés
language_invalid_str_mv Inglés
dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv #PLACEHOLDER_PARENT_METADATA_VALUE#
info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/AEI//PID2022–142312NB-I00
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.surfin.2025.107657
Sí
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
dc.publisher.none.fl_str_mv Elsevier
publisher.none.fl_str_mv Elsevier
dc.source.none.fl_str_mv reponame:DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC
instname:Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)
instname_str Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)
reponame_str DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC
collection DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC
repository.name.fl_str_mv
repository.mail.fl_str_mv
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score 15,811543

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