Exploration of CeO₂ nanoparticles as a chemi-sensor and photo-catalyst for environmental applications

• Published in: The Science of the total environment Vol. 409; no. 15; pp. 2987 - 2992
• Main Authors: Khan, Sher Bahadar, Faisal, M, Rahman, Mohammed M, Jamal, Aslam
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier B.V 01.07.2011; Elsevier
• Subjects: absorption; acridine orange; Applied sciences; Cerium - analysis; Cerium - chemistry; detection limit; emissions; Environmental Monitoring - methods; Environmental Pollutants - analysis; Environmental Pollutants - chemistry; ethanol; Exact sciences and technology; Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy; Global environmental pollution; nanoparticles; Nanoparticles - analysis; Nanoparticles - chemistry; Nanoparticles - ultrastructure; Photochemical Processes; Pollution; scanning electron microscopy; X-ray diffraction; Nanoparticle; Alcohol; Photo-catalyst; Cerium oxide; CeO; Electrocatalysis; Pollution; nanoparticles; Detection limit; Optical properties; Oxidation; Raman spectrometry; Fourier-transformed infrared spectrometry; Organic compounds; Photochemical degradation; Scanning electron microscopy; Sensitivity analysis; Organic dye; Ethanol; Photocatalysis; Ethanol chemi-sensor; Chemical sensor; Dispersive spectrometry; X ray diffraction; Industrial waste water; Nanostructured materials; Catalyst; Nanotechnology; Structural properties; Ultraviolet visible spectrometry
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2011.04.019

CeO₂ nanoparticles were synthesized hydrothermally and utilized as redox mediator for the fabrication of efficient ethanol chemi-sensor. The developed chemi-sensor showed an excellent performance for electrocatalytic oxidization of ethanol by exhibiting higher sensitivity (0.92μA∙cm⁻²∙mM⁻¹) and lower limit of detection (0.124±0.010mM) with the linear dynamic range of 0.17mM–0.17M. CeO₂ nanoparticles have been characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), Energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Raman spectrum, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and UV–visible absorption spectrum which revealed that the synthesized CeO₂ is an aggregated form of optically active spherical nanoparticles with the range of 15–36nm (average size of ~25±10nm) and possessing well crystalline cubic phase. Additionally, CeO₂ performed well as a photo-catalyst by degrading amido black and acridine orange.