Abstract
Microwave-assisted synthesis method was used to prepare europium hydroxide (Eu(OH)(3)) and different percentages of 1, 5, and 10 % nickel-doped Eu(OH)(3) (Ni-Eu(OH)(3)) nanorods (NRs). X-ray diffraction study showed a hexagonal phase with an average crystallite size in the range of 21 - 35 nm for Eu(OH)(3) and Ni-Eu(OH)(3) NRs. FT-IR and Raman studies also confirmed the synthesis of Eu(OH)(3) and Ni-Eu(OH)(3). The synthesized materials showed rod-like morphology with an average length and diameter between 27 - 50 nm and 8 - 13 nm, respectively. The band gap energies of Ni-Eu(OH)(3) NRs were reduced (4.06 - 3.50 eV), which indicates that the doping of Ni(2+) ions has influenced the band gap energy of Eu(OH)(3). The PL study exhibited PL quenching with Ni doping. The photocatalytic degradation of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) by the synthesized materials under UV light irradiation was investigated, in which 10 % Ni-Eu(OH)(3) NRs showed the best response. A kinetic study was also conducted which shows pseudo-first-order kinetics. Based on this, Ni-Eu(OH)(3) NRs have shown a potential to be a UV-light active material for photocatalysis.