Exploration of CeO2 nanoparticles as a chemi-sensor and photo-catalyst for environmental applications

CeO2 nanoparticles were synthesized hydrothermally and utilized as redox mediator for the fabrication of efficient ethanol chemi-sensor. The developed chemi-sensor showed an excellent performance for electrocatalytic oxidization of ethanol by exhibiting higher sensitivity (0.92 μA∙cm− 2∙mM− 1) and lower limit of detection (0.124 ± 0.010 mM) with the linear dynamic range of 0.17 mM–0.17 M. CeO2 nanoparticles have been characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), Energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Raman spectrum, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and UV–visible absorption spectrum which revealed that the synthesized CeO2 is an aggregated form of optically active spherical nanoparticles with the range of 15–36 nm (average size of ~ 25 ±10 nm) and possessing well crystalline cubic phase. Additionally, CeO2 performed well as a photo-catalyst by degrading amido black and acridine orange.

Research highlights
► CeO2 nanoparticles.
► Sensitive ethanol chemi-sensor.
► Efficient photo-catalyst.
► Degradation of environmental pollutant.
► Environmental safety.