La-doped ZnO nanoparticles: Simple solution-combusting preparation and applications in the wastewater treatment

Graphical abstract: La-doped ZnO nanoparticles have been successfully prepared by a simple solution combustion route and exhibit good adsorption for Cu and Pb ion from water systems. - Highlights: • La-doped ZnO nanoparticles were successfully prepared via a simple solution-combustion route. • The integration of La{sup 3+} ions into ZnO decreased the band-gap of ZnO nanoparticles. • La-doped ZnO nanoparticles could remove more Pb and Cu ions from water resources than undoped ZnO. - Abstract: La-doped ZnO nanoparticles have been successfully synthesized by a simple solution combustion method via employing a mixture of ethanol and ethyleneglycol (v/v = 60/40) as the solvent. Zinc acetate and oxygen gas in the atmosphere were used as zinc and oxygen sources, and La(NO{sub 3}){sub 3} as the doping reagent. The as-obtained product was characterized by means of powder X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Experiments showed that La-doped ZnO nanoparticles exhibited the higher capacities for the removal of Pb{sup 2+} and Cu{sup 2+} ions in water resource than undoped ZnO nanoparticles.