One-step synthesis of reduced graphene oxide–CeO2 nanocubes composites with enhanced photocatalytic activity

•RGO–CeO2 NCs were synthesized by a one-step hydrothermal route.•RGO–CeO2 NCs exhibit enhanced photocatalytic activity compared with CeO2 NCs.•The enhanced photocatalysis is due to charge interaction between CeO2 NCs and RGO.

In this study, novel reduced graphene oxide–CeO2 nanocubes composites (RGO–CeO2 NCs) were successfully synthesized by a one-step hydrothermal route with well-dispersed CeO2 NCs anchored on RGO sheets. The photocatalytic experimental results show that RGO–CeO2 NCs composites exhibit enhanced photocatalytic activity for the degradation of methylene blue (MB) under UV-light irradiation compared with pristine CeO2 NCs (Eg=2.76 eV). The enhancement of photocatalytic activity can be attributed to the effective inhibition of the recombination of photogenerated electron–hole pairs due to the charge interaction between CeO2 NCs and RGO nanosheets demonstrated by the analysis of Raman and XPS spectra. In addition, CeO2 NWs (Eg=2.88 eV) and RGO–CeO2 NWs were also prepared and investigated as referenced photocatalysts.

Graphical abstract(a) Raman spectra of CeO2 NCs, RGO–CeO2 NCs and GO; (b) XPS spectra of CeO2 NCs and RGO–CeO2 NCs; (c) photodegradation of methylene blue using various photocatalysts; (d) UV–vis diffuse spectra of corresponding photocatalysts.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide