Nanostructured CeO2 photocatalysts: optimizing surface chemistry, morphology, and visible-light absorption

doi:10.1039/d4nr00676c

Review

. 2024 May 23;16(20):9659-9679.

doi: 10.1039/d4nr00676c.

Nanostructured CeO₂ photocatalysts: optimizing surface chemistry, morphology, and visible-light absorption

Austin E Herzog¹, Tara J Michael¹, Adam D Dunkelberger², Michelle D Johannes³, Debra R Rolison², Paul A DeSario⁴, Travis G Novak²

Affiliations

¹ NRC Postdoctoral Associate, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, D.C., 20375, USA.
² Chemistry Division (Code 6100), U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, D.C., 20375, USA. travis.g.novak.civ@us.navy.mil.
³ Materials Science and Technology Division (Code 6300), U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, D.C., 20375, USA.
⁴ Former NRL Staff Scientist in Code 6100, Advanced Naval Platforms Division, Office of Naval Research, Arlington, VA, 22203, USA.

PMID: 38683667
DOI: 10.1039/d4nr00676c

Review

Nanostructured CeO₂ photocatalysts: optimizing surface chemistry, morphology, and visible-light absorption

Austin E Herzog et al. Nanoscale. 2024.

. 2024 May 23;16(20):9659-9679.

doi: 10.1039/d4nr00676c.

Authors

Austin E Herzog¹, Tara J Michael¹, Adam D Dunkelberger², Michelle D Johannes³, Debra R Rolison², Paul A DeSario⁴, Travis G Novak²

Affiliations

¹ NRC Postdoctoral Associate, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, D.C., 20375, USA.
² Chemistry Division (Code 6100), U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, D.C., 20375, USA. travis.g.novak.civ@us.navy.mil.
³ Materials Science and Technology Division (Code 6300), U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, D.C., 20375, USA.
⁴ Former NRL Staff Scientist in Code 6100, Advanced Naval Platforms Division, Office of Naval Research, Arlington, VA, 22203, USA.

PMID: 38683667
DOI: 10.1039/d4nr00676c

Abstract

Emerging photocatalytic applications of cerium dioxide (CeO₂) include green hydrogen production, CO₂ conversion to fuels, and environmental remediation of various toxic molecules. These applications leverage the oxygen storage capacity and tunable surface chemistry of CeO₂ to photocatalyze the chosen reaction, but many open questions remain regarding the fundamental physics of photocatalysis over CeO₂. The commonly ascribed 'bandgap' of CeO₂ (∼3.1 eV) differs fundamentally from other photocatalytic oxides such as TiO₂; UV light excites an electron from the CeO₂ valence band into a 4f state, generating a polaron as the lattice distorts around the localized charge. Researchers often disregard the distinction between the 4f state and a traditional, delocalized conduction band, resulting in ambiguity regarding mechanisms of charge transfer and visible-light absorption. This review summarizes modern literature regarding CeO₂ photocatalysis and discusses commonly reported photocatalytic reactions and visible light-sensitization strategies. We detail the often misunderstood fundamental physics of CeO₂ photocatalysis and supplement previous work with original computational insights. The exceptional progress and remaining challenges of CeO₂-based photocatalysts are highlighted, along with suggestions for further research directions based on the observed gaps in current understanding.

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Nanostructured CeO₂ photocatalysts: optimizing surface chemistry, morphology, and visible-light absorption

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Nanostructured CeO₂ photocatalysts: optimizing surface chemistry, morphology, and visible-light absorption

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Abstract

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