Nanostructured hexagonal S-doped CeO2 for effective Rh-B and MB dye degradation

•S doped CeO2 Hexagonal nanoparticles (HNPs) were synthesized by hydrothermal method.•S doped CeO2 HNPs exhibited remarkable Photocatalytic activity (PCA) with 94 % degradation for Rh B dye.•The synergy between the reduced optical band gap and Ov in S-doping CeO2 is instrumental for the enhanced PCA.••O2− and OH• h+ radicals were predominant in the dye degradation. The photocatalytic efficiency of CeO2−xSx (x = 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.5) hexagonal nanoparticles (HNPs) prepared through the hydrothermal method were tested by performing the degradation of Rhodamine-B and Methylene blue dyes under UV light irradiation. These compounds were thoroughly characterised using XRD, FESEM, EDX, HRTEM, XPS, ESR, FTIR, Raman, UV–vis DRS, BET and PL techniques. XRD analysis verified the cubic crystal structure of S-doped and pure CeO2 HNPs. HRTEM images clearly affirmed that S-doped CeO2 is made from HNPs. Over 94 % of Rh-B and 72 % of MB dyes were degraded by S-doped CeO2 for 180 min under UV light exposure, demonstrating its efficacy towards the photocatalytic activity (PCA). S-doped CeO2 HNPs have enhanced the PCA due to the reduction in the recombination rate of photo-generated electron-hole pairs, the rise in oxygen vacancy (Ov) and the narrowed optical band-gap. The photoluminescence findings clearly validated the increased PCA of S-doped CeO2. The scavenger tests confirmed the OH• and •O2− radicals participation in the quick degradation of both Rh-B and MB dyes. [Display omitted]