A study investigates how varying Pr levels affect structural properties and photocatalytic performance in high-entropy oxides, indicating potential applications in material design.
High-entropy fluorite oxides offer exceptional tunability of structure and functionality through controlled multi-cation substitution. In this work, Ce-Zr-Pr-Sm-Eu-based high-entropy oxides, with systematically varied Pr content, were synthesized using a modified sol–gel citrate method to investigate the influence of Pr incorporation on lattice structure, defect formation, and photocatalytic performance. All compositions crystallized in a single-phase cubic fluorite structure, where increasing Pr concentration induced gradual lattice expansion and microstrain due to the substitution of larger Pr3+ ions. Morphological and surface analyses revealed porous nanostructures at moderate Pr levels, while excessive Pr promoted densification and reduced surface accessibility. Spectroscopic studies confirmed the coexistence of Pr3+/Pr4+ and Ce3+/Ce4+ redox couples, strong 4f–2p orbital hybridization, and enhanced defect-related electronic states that narrowed the optical bandgap. The optimized Pr-doped composition exhibited almost 100% degradation of methylene blue under UV light over 30 min, untypical for semiconductors with a narrower bandgap, and is enabled by efficient charge separation and redox cycling between Ce and Pr centers.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Tatar et al. (2026) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: