Controlled synthesis of nanosized Cd-CeO2 for efficient pH responsive photocatalytic degradation of CV dye for sustainable wastewater treatment

In recent decades, the rising challenge in the treatment of industrial wastewater has become a focal point for researchers due to the substantial expansion of industrialization. The current study aims to investigate the influence of Cd doping on the structural, optical, and photocatalytic properties of CeO₂ nanoparticles synthesized through a facile sol-gel method. Raman spectroscopy unveiled oxygen vacancy defects in the CeO₂ lattice, intensifying with Cd doping up to 6 % and subsequently diminishing. The lattice defects demonstrated a direct correlation with the band gap energy of the catalysts. The variation in lattice defects due to Cd doping plays an important role in enhancing the photocatalytic performance of the synthesized photocatalysts against crystal violet dye. Notably, the 6 % Cd-doped CeO₂ catalyst achieved a maximum degradation of 96.8 % at pH 9 within 80 min under UV light. These synthesized catalysts stand out as promising candidates for photocatalytic applications in environmental wastewater remediation.