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In this study Sm2O3/ZnO and Eu2O3/ZnO nanostructures were prepared using microwave-assisted hydrothermal method. Effect of Sm2O3 and Eu2O3 content and calcination temperature was investigated. The reusability of obtained photocatalysts was also studied. The prepared samples were investigated by using XRD, X-ray spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope. The photocatalytic activity was determined by degradation of methylene blue (MB) under Osram Vitalux illumination. Modified ZnO nanoparticles according to XRD analysis consists of ZnO with crystallite size in the range of 16-23 nm. Under solar light simulated radiation prepared ZnO nanostructures shown high photocatalytic activity. After 30 minute of irradiation more than 95 % of initial MB solution was degraded. The photocatalytic test revealed that ZnO containing Eu2O3 and Sm2O3 exhibits higher activity than pure unmodified ZnO.
Keywords: ZnO, hydrothermal synthesis, microwave, Eu2O3, Sm2O3, photocatalysis© This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.