Preparation and optimization of CeO2 nanoparticles and its application in photocatalytic degradation of Reactive Orange 16 dye

•CeO2 nanoparticles have been synthesized via microemulsion and sol–gel methods.•The products have high purity, fine crystallite size, and high specific surface area.•The microemulsion method produced finer particles with higher specific surface area.•Photocatalytic activity was studied in order to decolorize RO 16 aqueous solution.

Cerium oxide nanoparticles were prepared by a novel simple microemulsion procedure and sol–gel method. Using the Taguchi design method, the effective parameters were determined and optimized for CeO2 nanoparticle synthesis. These nanoparticles were characterized by XRD, SEM, TEM, DLS, and BET. The data obtained by these analyses indicated that the microemulsion procedure produces finer particles (3.9 nm) with higher specific surface area in comparison with the sol–gel method. In addition, photocatalytic degradation behavior of the Reactive Orange 16 in aqueous solution with cerium oxide nanoparticles was studied successfully.

Graphical abstractCeO2 was prepared via microemulsion and sol–gel method. Using Taguchi experimental design these methods were optimized. By comparing the results, it was found that microemulsion method produces finer particles with higher specific area. CeO2 nanoparticles were also used as a photocatalyst in elimination of RO 16 dye.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide