Microwave-assisted preparation of Ce-doped ZnO nanostructures as an efficient photocatalyst

•Microwave irradiation method was applied for preparation of Ce-doped ZnO nanostructures in water at 10 min.•Doping of the ZnO nanostructures with 0.1 mol fraction of Ce+4 ions increases the degradation rate constant of MB about 7-fold.•The reaction rate constant decreases with calcination temperature and the optimum value for pH of solution is 5.4.

Fast and template-free method is proposed for preparation of Ce-doped ZnO nanostructures (0≤ mole fraction of Ce+4≤0.15) in water under microwave irradiation for 10 min without using any templates and additives. Photocatalytic activity of the nanostructures was investigated by degradation of methylene blue (MB) under UV irradiation. Doping of the ZnO nanostructures with 0.1 mol fraction of Ce+4 ions increases the rate constant about 7-fold. The photocatalyst with 0.8 g/L have highest rate constant. Moreover, the reaction rate constant decreases with calcination temperature and the optimum value for pH of solution is 5.4.

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