Mochammad Ghulam Isaq Khan, Rima Nurfitria, Tiwi Anggraini, Quratul Aini, Istiara Rizqillah Hanifah, Eka Nurfani, Rizky Aflaha, Kuwat Triyana, Tarmizi Taher, Aditya Rianjanu
Efficient photocatalysts for dye-contaminated wastewater remain in demand. In this study, CeO2/ZnO nanocomposites with varying Zn/Ce ratios were synthesized via a hydrothermal method and assessed for their photocatalytic activity under UV light. Structural analysis via X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis and Rietveld refinement confirmed heterojunction formation, with CeO2 as the dominant phase and ZnO progressively incorporated. SEM and EDS analyses showed morphological transitions and uniform elemental distribution. Photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB) and methyl orange (MO) revealed that the Zn-rich CeO2/ZnO-3 composite achieved the highest MB degradation (k = 0.01349 min−1), while ZnO showed the best MO performance (k = 0.00906 min−1). Lower-Zn composites and CeO2 alone showed minimal activity, resembling adsorption behavior. These findings highlight the role of Zn/Ce ratio in optimizing heterojunction performance, enhancing charge separation, and improving dye degradation, offering valuable insights for designing advanced photocatalysts for wastewater treatment. © 2025 Elsevier B.V.
Department of Materials Engineering, Faculty of Industrial Technology, Institut Teknologi Sumatera, Terusan Ryacudu, Way Hui, Jati Agung, Lampung Selatan, 35365, Indonesia; Department of Physics, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Sekip Utara, PO Box BLS 21, Yogyakarta, 55281, Indonesia; Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Infrastructure and Regional Technology, Institut Teknologi Sumatera, Terusan Ryacudu, Way Hui, Jati Agung, Lampung Selatan, 35365, Indonesia; Center for Green and Sustainable Materials, Institut Teknologi Sumatera, Terusan Ryacudu, Way Hui, Jati Agung, Lampung Selatan, 35365, Indonesia