Nanoflower-like cerium-doped ZnO photocatalyst deposited by spray pyrolysis for the degradation of methylene blue dye

In this study, the photodegradation of methylene blue (MB) dye and photocatalytic activities of pure ZnO and ZnO:Ce (2%, 4%, 6%, %8) films deposited with USP, an economical technique, were examined. The effect of Ce-doping on the optical, structural, surface and photocatalytic properties of the films was investigated using XRD, UV-Visible spectrophotometry, spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE), photoluminescence spectrometry, X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), field emission scanning microscope (FESEM) and atomic force microscope (AFM). In the morphology analyzes of the films, a chrysanthemum-like nanoflower structure was observed as a result of Ce-doping. Photoluminescence spectra were taken in order to determine the trap levels formed in the structure of ZnO:Ce films to be used in photocatalytic applications. Consequently, the photocatalytic properties of ZnO:Ce films were found to vary significantly depending on the surface morphology of the photocatalyst and surface defects (zinc interstitial, oxygen vacancies).