Synthesis of CeO2 nanoparticles: Photocatalytic and antibacterial activities

We have successfully synthesized CeO2 nanoparticles (Nps) via the solution combustion method using sugarcane juice as a novel combustible fuel. The structural features, optical properties and morphology of the nanoparticles were characterized using XRD, FTIR, and Raman spectroscopy, UV-Vis, SEM and TEM. Structural characterization of the product shows cubic phase CeO2. FTIR and Raman spectrum show characteristic peaks due to the presence of Ce-O vibration. SEM images show a porous structure and, from TEM images, the size of the nanoparticles were found to be similar to 50 nm. The photocatalytic degradation of the methylene blue (MB) dye was examined using CeO2 Nps under solar irradiation as well as UV light irradiation and we studied the effect of pH, catalytic load and concentration on the degradation of the MB dye. Furthermore, the antibacterial properties of CeO2 Nps were investigated against Gram+ ve and Gram-ve pathogenic bacterial strains using the agar well diffusion method.