Synthesis, Characterization, Photocatalytic, Antibacterial, and Electrochemical Analysis of Green Synthesized CeO ₂ NPs

ABSTRACT Cerium oxide (CeO 2 ) nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized using a green synthesis method with cerium nitrate hexahydrate as the precursor. The CeO 2 NPs were characterized by XRD, FE‐SEM, UV–visible, FT‐IR and tested for photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB), antibacterial activity, and electrochemical analysis. Phase identification and calculation of the crystallite size, microstrain, and dislocation density were carried out using XRD data through the Scherrer, modified Scherrer, Williamson–Hall, and Halder–Wagner methods. Morphological studies, element identification, and average particle size were determined using FE‐SEM with EDAX and ImageJ software. The identification of functional groups present in the sample is done by FT‐IR. The energy bandgap and photocatalytic degradation under UV light were studied by visible spectroscopy. The bacterial activity was tested for E. Coli and S. aureus . The electrochemical properties of the synthesized material were investigated using CV and DPV methods.