ZIF-8-Induced CeO2/ZnO Nanobelts with Curled Edges Accelerating Cycling Efficiency of Ce3+/Ce4+ for Superior Photocatalytic Performance.

ZIF-8-induced photocatalytic CeO₂/ZnO nanobelts with curled edges were synthesized by following a facile electrospinning method for low-cost photodecomposition of methylene blue (MB). Phase structure and morphological evolution of different samples can be dominantly adjusted by introducing appropriate amount of zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) into the precursor solution. CeO₂/ZnO heterostructures exhibit the optimal 96.59% photodegradation of MB organic pollutant in 70 min, approximately 7.43 times than that of pure CeO₂. The curled microstructure can produce tunable surface activity and a unique electron transport process, facilitating the cycling efficiency of Ce³⁺/Ce⁴⁺ pairs on the surface of materials. Meanwhile, the formation of CeO₂-ZnO heterojunctions contributes to regulating the crystal nucleation and growth during the high-temperature reaction and reducing the recombination rate of electron/hole pairs during the photocatalytic degradation. Thus, the obtained CeO₂/ZnO composites may be a promising candidate for MB degradation in industrial wastewater treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]