Self-Assembly of Porphyrin Nanofibers on CeO2 Nanoparticles: An Enhanced Photocatalyst for Organic Pollutant Degradation Under Simulated Sunlight Irradiation
摘要
This study investigates the synthesis and photocatalytic performance of CeO2/porphyrin nanocomposites, created by self-assembling porphyrin monomers onto CeO2 nanoparticles, which were green-synthesized using Cleistocalyx operculatus leaf extract. The resulting CeO2/porphyrin composite showed enhanced photocatalytic efficiency for degrading organic pollutants, such as methylene blue and rhodamine B, compared to individual CeO2 nanoparticles and free porphyrin aggregates. CeO2 nanoparticles were characterized by SEM, XRD, FTIR, EDX, and UV-Vis, confirming successful synthesis and their crystalline integrity. The porphyrin TCPP (Tetrakis(4-carboxyphenyl)porphyrin) was integrated via a reprecipitation method, and SEM and XRD analysis verified the uniform incorporation of TCPP onto CeO2 nanoparticles, preserving the nanofiber morphology and a crystalline structure with an average size of 9 nm. The CeO2/TCPP composite exhibited extended visible light absorption, as shown in UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectra, indicating its potential for photocatalytic applications under visible light. Photocatalytic tests under simulated sunlight demonstrated a significant improvement in performance, with a 95.9% degradation of Rhodamine B after 120 minutes, particularly at a CeO2:TCPP ratio of 10:1. This research highlights the effective synergy between CeO2 and porphyrin materials, providing a novel approach for developing efficient, green-synthesized nanocomposites for environmental remediation under visible light, marking a significant contribution to photocatalytic technology.