Comparative structural, electronic, and photocatalytic effects of Ce and Sm modification in ZnO/rGO nanorod films synthesized by an electrospinning-assisted hydrothermal route

Ramos P.G.; Park J.W.; Lee D.; Yi Y.; Rodriguez J.M. · Materials Science in Semiconductor Processing (2026) · DOI: 10.1016/j.mssp.2026.110920

Resumen

Rare-earth modification is widely used to tailor the properties of ZnO-based photocatalysts, and the influence of different lanthanides in these systems remains an active topic of investigation. In this study, ZnO and ZnO/rGO nanorod films modified with cerium and samarium were prepared on FTO substrates via in situ incorporation during an electrospinning-assisted hydrothermal approach. Structural analysis confirms the preservation of the wurtzite ZnO phase, while the average nanorod diameter decreased from 256 ± 44 nm for pristine ZnO to 86–113 nm in the modified systems, with the smallest diameters observed in the ZnO/rGO films modified with rare-earth elements. Spectroscopic analyses reveal distinct electronic effects associated with cerium and samarium modification. Cerium mainly affects near-surface electronic states, whereas samarium induces electronic perturbations extending into the bulk. Photocatalytic activity was evaluated using methylene blue degradation under simulated sunlight. Sm-ZnO/rGO exhibited the highest performance, with a pseudo-first-order rate constant of 0.0170 min−1, approximately fivefold that of pristine ZnO. Overall, the results show that rare-earth modification combined with rGO hybridization governs the structural, electronic, and photocatalytic response of supported ZnO nanostructured films.

Instituciones: Universidad Nacional de Ingeniería