Rare Earth Element (REE) Nd³⁺ Doped CeO₂ Nanoparticles Using Aloe vera Leaf Extract: Structural, Optical and...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Biotechnology

Background:

• Cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeO₂ NPs) are recognized for their catalytic and biomedical applications.
• Neodymium (Nd) doping can modify the properties of CeO₂ NPs for enhanced functionality.
• Green synthesis methods offer environmentally friendly alternatives for nanomaterial production.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize pure and Nd-doped CeO₂ NPs using a sustainable Aloe vera extract.
• To characterize the structural, morphological, and optical properties of the synthesized NPs.
• To evaluate the antimicrobial efficacy of the NPs against a panel of pathogenic microorganisms.

Main Methods:

• Green synthesis of CeO₂ NPs using Aloe vera leaf extract.
• Characterization using X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM), Energy-Dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX), Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), UV-Visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy, and Photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy.
• Antimicrobial activity testing against Gram-positive bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria, and fungal strains.

Main Results:

• XRD confirmed the cubic structure of pure and Nd-doped CeO₂ NPs.
• FE-SEM revealed spherical morphology with pores on the surface of Nd-doped NPs.
• UV-Vis spectra showed absorption edges at 314 nm, 324 nm, and 357 nm for pure and Nd-doped NPs.
• PL spectra indicated a slight shift in emission for Nd-doped NPs.
• Antimicrobial activity was observed against tested bacterial and fungal strains.

Conclusions:

• Aloe vera extract is an effective green reducing and capping agent for synthesizing CeO₂ NPs.
• Nd doping influences the structural and optical properties of CeO₂ NPs.
• The synthesized Nd-doped CeO₂ NPs exhibit promising antimicrobial properties, warranting further investigation for therapeutic applications.