Solvothermal synthesis of hierarchically porous CeO2 nanopalm leaves and their photocatalytic properties

Hierarchically porous CeCO₃OH palm leaves were synthesized by using a facile solvothermal method at 180 °C utilizing cerium nitrate and ethylene glycol. Polycrystalline CeO₂ palm leaves were obtained from the thermal decomposition-oxidation process of the CeCO₃OH nanostructures. CeCO₃OH and CeO₂ palm leaves were characterized by X-ray diffraction pattern, scanning electron microscopy image, energy dispersive X-ray analyses, and ultraviolet (UV)–visible spectroscopy images. The CeO₂ palm leaves exhibited a significant photocatalytic performance in degrading azo dye acid orange II in an aqueous solution under an UV radiation. The formation mechanisms of the CeCO₃OH/CeO₂ nanostructures were described on the basis of the experimental results.