The influence of mechanochemical activation on the Zn–Ce–O composition properties

The influence of mechanochemical treatment in air at different conditions (treatment time, ball-to-powder ratio, diameter of the balls) on oxide zinc–cerium composition ZnO–CeO2 = 50:50 (molar ratio) properties was studied. The decrease in the particle size of oxides (CeO2 – from 57 up to 18 nm, ZnO – from 174 up to 40 nm) and formation of Zn–Ce–O nanocomposite was shown by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy methods. The optimal treatment conditions (diameter of the balls 5–10 mm, ball-to-powder ratio = 15, time treatment 2–4 hours) were established. An increase in the specific surface area (up to three times) and pores volume due to the formation of mesopores with two dimensions (2.1 and 30 nm) at these conditions was shown by Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) and Barrett-Joyner-Halenda (BJH) methods. The increase in the photocatalytic activity of the dye safranin T decomposition due to the formation of Zn–Ce–O nanocomposite was established.