ZrO₂/Dy₂O₃ Solid Solution Nano‐Materials: Tunable Composition, Visible light–Responsive Photocatalytic Activities and Reaction Mechanism

Abstract

A series of ZrO2/Dy2O3 solid solution nano‐materials with tunable compositions were successfully synthesized by the molten salt–assisted method. Structural characterization results show the positions, intensity, and width of the X‐ray diffraction peaks of products show a regular variation with increasing Dy3+ content which implies the gradually changes of crystal spacing and product size. In addition, all the products are single phase without the coexistence of zirconia and Dy2O3 further demonstrating the perfect formation of targeted solid solutions. Photocatalytic experiments reveal that Zr0.8Dy0.2O2−δ nano‐crystals have pretty photocatalytic degradation activities on Rhodamine B and Methylene blue under visible light irradiations. Reaction mechanism indicates that the excellent photocatalytic activities of Zr0.8Dy0.2O2−δ nano‐crystals result from the special defect structure, smaller size, and larger specific surface area. It follows that Zr0.8Dy0.2O2−δ nano‐crystals are promising visible light–responsive photocatalysts with better prospect in environmental protection and dye wastewater treatment. Moreover, the present molten salt–assisted route might be generalized to synthesize other solid solution nano‐crystals with more complicated structures.

Recent developments in heterogeneous photocatalytic water treatment using visible light-responsive photocatalysts: a review

“…ZrO 2 /Dy 2 O 3 materials with tunable compositions have been synthesized and have exhibited good photocatalytic degradation performances over both RhB and MB under visible light irradiation, which result from their special defect structure, small crystal size, and large specic surface area. 123 Bi 2 -Mo x W 1Àx (x ¼ 0-1) solid solutions have exhibited high photocatalytic activity for the degradation of RhB under visible light, which was mainly attributed to the special structure of the solid solution and the lower energy band-gap. 124 The catalytic 126 Moreover, it has been shown that immobilizing palladium phthalocyaninesulfonate (PdPcS) integrated onto the FDU-15 mesopolymer provided a number of diamino groups inside the mesopores, which could be advantageous for excellent visible light photocatalytic activity and reusability.…”

Visible‐Light‐Induced Degradation of Methylene Blue by SrBi3VO8 Nanoparticles

“…In this case usually the Bi-6s orbitals can hybridize with O-2p in VB. 9,28 It has been confirmed that in Bi-containing transition-metal (M) oxides, transition of the 6s electrons of Bi 3+ to the empty 3d orbitals of M 5+ can be possible depending on its structure, and its transition wavelength usually locates in a longer wavelength than the CT band in (M-O), that is, O 2À ?V 5+ in SrBi 3 VO 8 . This has been observed in the monoclinic BiVO 4 , 9 BiNbO 4 , and BiTaO 4 .…”

“…It is well‐known that optical absorption energy is decided by the band gap, which is followed by the release of holes and electrons from the valence (VB) and the conduction (CB) bands, respectively. To get photocatalysts with effective response in visible light wavelength, it is necessary to narrow the band‐gap of the semiconductors …”

“…To get photocatalysts with effective response in visible light wavelength, it is necessary to narrow the band-gap of the semiconductors. [6][7][8] Bi 3+ -containing heterometallic oxides have great potential photocatalytic applications for environment remediation and energy harvesting on the base of two major factors. The first one is due to the peculiar electronic structure of Bi 3+ ions, which has an electronic configuration [Xe]4f 14 5d 10 6s 2 with a peculiar 6s 2 lone pair (without bonding or sharing with other atoms).…”

Fabrication of meso-porous BiOI sensitized zirconia nanoparticles with enhanced photocatalytic activity under simulated solar light irradiation

“…The technological use of ZrO 2 with visible light was improved by several surface modification methods including metal doping [17,18], coupling with other semiconductors [19][20][21], and modification with carbon [22]. Du et al [23] studied the photocatalytic activity of ZrO 2 /Dy 2 O 3 nano-materials for the degradation of rhodamine-B under visible light. Ma et al [24] evaluated the photocatalytic activity of TaON modified ZrO 2 nanoparticles for the production of hydrogen under visible light.…”