Synthesis, characterization, PL properties, photocatalytic and antibacterial activities of nano multi-metal oxide NiO⋅CeO2⋅ZnO

•A novel multi-metal nanocomposite NiO⋅CeO2⋅ZnO has been prepared.•The crystallite size of the as-synthesized sample varies in the range of 14–23 nm.•The crystallite size of the annealed sample in the range of 17–50 nm.•Emissions of NiO⋅CeO2⋅ZnO have been observed in UV (NBE emission) and visible region.•Photocatalytic as well as antibacterial activities were studied.

A novel multi-metal nanocomposite, NiO⋅CeO2⋅ZnO has been prepared by co-precipitation of their carbonates from aqueous solutions of the metal nitrates following calcination and annealing 5 h at 450 °C and 10 h at 950 °C. NiO⋅CeO2⋅ZnO has been characterized by XRD, SEM, EDS, IR and PL spectra. The crystallite size of the as-synthesized sample varies in the range of 14–23 nm and those of the annealed sample in the range of 17–50 nm. Emissions of NiO⋅CeO2⋅ZnO have been observed in UV (NBE emission) and visible region at different excitations. Excitation wavelength dependent PL behavior of NiO⋅CeO2⋅ZnO has been observed in acetone at room temperature. This PL property is in disagreement with Kasha’s rule of excitation wavelength dependence of emission spectrum. Photocatalytic as well as anti-bacterial activities were studied.

Graphical abstractX-ray diffraction patterns of NiO⋅ZnO⋅CeO2 mixed metal oxide annealed at 950 °C. Closed circle, triangle and closed square indicate peaks for CeO2, ZnO and NiO respectively.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide