Advanced ZnO:Ce@GO nanocomposites for enhanced visible–light photocatalytic degradation of Disperse Red 152
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https://doi.org/10.54939/1859-1043.j.mst.112.2026.108-115Keywords:
ZnO:Ce@GO; Nanocomposite; Synergistic effect; Photocatalysis; Disperse Red 152.Abstract
ZnO and ZnO:Ce@(0–8)%GO nanocomposites were synthesized hydrothermally and characterized by XRD, FT–IR, PL, EDS, and UV–Vis–DRS. The materials retained the wurtzite ZnO structure with crystallite sizes of 28–38 nm. Ce doping and GO incorporation reduced the band gap from 3.15 to 2.78 eV and significantly suppressed electron–hole recombination, as evidenced by PL quenching. Under visible-light irradiation, ZnO:Ce@8%GO achieved 98.60% degradation of DR152 after 210 min, compared with 79.69% for pristine ZnO, with a reaction rate 2.94 times higher. The composite also retained 83.71% of its activity after five cycles, demonstrating good stability and the synergistic enhancement of photocatalytic performance by Ce and GO.
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