A study on Ag or Ce doped and co-doped ZnO for the photocatalytic degradation of RhB dye

Pure ZnO, Ag-doped ZnO, Ce-doped ZnO, and co-doped ZnO (Ag–Ce/ZnO) nano-photocatalysts were synthesized by the hydrothermal method. Compared with pure ZnO, Ag-doped ZnO, Ce-doped ZnO, and Ag–Ce/ZnO exhibited excellent photocatalytic performance due to their superior optical and photoelectrochemical properties. Photodegradation experiment results revealed that the Ag–Ce/ZnO photocatalysts could degrade 97% of RhB dye within 30 min. Further, it was proved that the superoxide radicals played an active role in the photodegradation reaction. A possible mechanism of Ag–Ce/ZnO degradation was proposed. •Ag and Ce co-doped ZnO nano-photocatalysts are prepared by a facile hydrothermal method.•The photocatalytic performance of Ag and Ce co-doped ZnO is 15.1 times higher than that of pure ZnO.•The photocatalytic mechanism of Ag and Ce co-doped ZnO photocatalysts is proposed.