Gd-cobalt selenite as an efficient nanocomposite for aniline synthesis from photocatalytic reduction of nitrobenzene

Abstract In this investigation, Gd-CoSeO 3 nanocomposite with controlled Gd doping contents was synthesized using a sol gel method. The resultant specimen was found to have large specific surface area (115 m 2 /g) and limited particle size (15 nm). TEM examination illustrated that the synthesized Gd-CoSeO 3 nanocomposite exhibited nanospherical morphology. Also, it was revealed that band gap controlling of the CoSeO 3 nanoparticles could be accomplished via managing the Gd contents. The photocatalytic activity of the Gd-CoSeO 3 nanocomposite samples was inspected via Nitrobenzene – aniline transformation applying visible light irradiation. Gadolinium doping was adopted to improve the photo-catalytic of the synthesized CoSeO 3 . This can be accredited to band gap decrease of CoSeO 3 by Gd doping as well as life time increase of e-h recombination rate which occur via electron trapping by Gd metal. Therefore, we can prepare an efficient photocatalyst by sol- gel method and photoassisted deposition method to control band gap and e-h recombination rate.