Abstract
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•Hydrothermal method was used to prepare Gd(OH)3 nanoparticles.•Pd was deposited into the surface of Gd(OH)3 nanoparticles by a photoassisted deposition method.•Different characterization techniques were used for the characterization of the nanoparticles samples.•The photocatalytic performance studied for the photocatalytic reduction of CO2 under visible light.•Pd- Gd(OH)3 nanoparticles photocatalyst can be used for five consecutive times.
A hydrothermal method was used to prepare Gd(OH)3 nanoparticles; then palladium was doped into the surface of Gd(OH)3 nanoparticles by a photoassisted deposition method. Different characterization techniques such as XRD, PL, UV–vis, XRD, TEM and BET surface area were used for characterization of Gd(OH)3 and Pd/ Gd(OH)3 nanoparticles samples. The photocatalytic performance of Gd(OH)3 and Pd/ Gd(OH)3 nanoparticles samples was studied for the photocatalytic reduction of CO2 under visible light. The results reveal that weight percent of doped palladium plays important role in control band gap of Gd(OH)3 nanoparticles and prevent electron-hole recombination rate. Also, it was noticed that BET surface area of Gd(OH)3 nanoparticles was decreased from 55 to 42 m2/g by changing weight percent of palladium from zero to 0.8 wt%, respectively, due to blocking of some pores of Gd(OH)3 nanoparticles by deposition of palladium. XPS results reveal that palladium was doped as metallic palladium. 0.6 wt% Pd-Gd(OH)3 nanoparticles photocatalyst has the highest photocatalytic activity compared with the other photocatlysts, and it can be used five times without loss of its photocatalytic activity.