Photocatalysis is contextualized in a broad technological development environment, with applications ranging from the degradation of organic substances, sterilization of hospital utensils as an antibacterial agent and energy conversion processes solar cells¹

When compared to other countries, Brazil is located in an intertropical zone, having the advantage of receiving high levels of solar radiation throughout the year. Therefore, developing of photocatalysts capable of using energy from the sun is desirable, and doping can cause changes in the range of semiconductor absorption²

The solid materials were synthesized by hydrothermal method employing ammonium niobium oxalate and cerium(III) nitrate as precursors, then the samples were calcined at 800 ^oC for 5 h. Cerium doped niobium(IV) oxides were characterized about their structure (FTIR, DRX, Raman and XPS), morphological (SEM) and optical (DRS) properties, and photocatalytic activity.

[1] KUWAHARA, Yasutaka et al.. Journal of Catalysis v. 285, n. 1, p. 223–234, jan. 2012

[2] GÓMEZ, J.M. Rodríguez et al.. Revista Brasileira de Ensino de Física v. 40, n. 3 , 26 mar. 2018