Solar light-driven CeVO₄/ZnO nanoheterojunction for the mineralization of Reactive Orange 4

In this study, we synthesized CeVO₄/ZnO nanoheterojunction photocatalyst through hydrothermal-precipitation method. The prepared photocatalyst was characterized by Fourier transform infrared analysis (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) with elemental color mapping (ECM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) with selected area electron diffraction (SAED) pattern, UV-vis diffuse reflection spectroscopy (UV-vis-DRS), BET, and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. The BET surface area of CeVO₄/ZnO is 10.50 m²/g. The photocatalytic activity of CeVO₄/ZnO nanoheterojunction under solar light was investigated for the degradation of Reactive Orange 4 (RO 4). CeVO₄/ZnO has been found to be more effective for mineralization of RO 4 than the prepared ZnO at neutral pH. The addition of TBA (^•OH scavenger) contributes a significant decrease in the photodegradation efficiently of the catalyst. Chemical oxygen demand (COD) measurements confirmed the complete mineralization of RO 4. In addition, it found that the photocatalyst was stable and reusable. Graphical abstract.