Facile fabrication of CeO₂ nanomaterials by hydrothermal methods and their photocatalytic and hydrophobic properties

CeO₂ nanomaterials were synthesized by a simple hydrothermal method, and their photocatalytic and hydrophobic properties were systematically investigated. CeO₂ nanomaterials displayed excellent photocatalytic properties, and under UV light irradiation, 98.5% Rhodamine B was degenerated by CeO₂ nanomaterials grown on Ni foam. After chemical modification with 1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorodecyl-triethoxysilane (PFDTES), CeO₂ nanomaterials showed good hydrophobic properties and water contact angles were in the range of 124 − 135 ◦ . The hydrophobic property of the CeO₂ nanomaterials contributed to the self-assembled membrane also with hydrophobic properties on the surface of the treated CeO₂ nanomaterials with PFDTES. Therefore, the study not only presents a facile method to fabricate CeO₂ nanomaterials, but also demonstrates the promising applications of CeO₂ in the treatment of waste water and self-cleaning of building materials. (author)