“A novel study over Cerium and Cobalt dual incorporation in MoO3 nanostructures for an enhanced photodegradation, photocatalytic hydrogen production, and boosted energy storage”

This study reports the effective novel co-doping of Ce and Co in MoO 3 nanostructures for the first time by facile hydrothermal methodology. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis showed the reduction in intensity along with a minute shift in peak position took place after loading Ce and Co in MoO 3 as well as the decreasing trend in the average crystallite size (38.5–18.9 nm). About 18.9 nm average crystallite size for the best Ce 0.04 Co 0.04 Mo 0.92 O 3 samples having hexagonal prisms shaped nanostructured morphology. The optical properties of the as synthesized co-doped MoO 3 based nanostructures have been investigated and compared utilizing the Photoluminescence (PL) and Ultra Visible Near Infra-red spectroscopy (UV–Vis) analysis, a thorough decreasing trend in band gap (3.32–2.35 eV) along with the decreased recombination rate of electron-hole pair have been observed. After a thorough comparison, the maximum degradation efficiency of 99 % for Methylene Blue (MB) dye and improved hydrogen evolution activity of 14.8 mmol g −1 h −1 has been investigated for Ce 0.04 Co 0.04 Mo 0.92 O 3 (The best sample), owing to its small bandgap, lowest average crystallite size, highest surface area, the highest decay time of charge carriers, higher charge carrier's life time, at higher frequency with smaller ohmic impedance. Moreover, Ce 0.04 Co 0.04 Mo 0.92 O 3 (The best sample) as compared to all other synthesized co-doped MoO 3 based nanostructures showed a significant improvement in capacitance of 1342 F/g because of its high synergistic effect, numerous active sites on its greater surface area, and quick ion transfer. For the best sample the remarkable stability, maintaining over 93 % of its capacitance after 12000 cycles, and the supercapacitor behavior was confirmed by the “b” value of 0.74. Consequently, the enhanced specific capacitance and significantly extended life-cycle of Ce, Co co-doped MoO 3 nanostructures validate their future application in high-performance energy storage devices. Overall, the multifunctional usage of the co-doped MoO 3 based nanostructures focused here in this novel study will surely be a horizon for the new readership and industrial application at large scale. • Ce and Co co-doping in MoO 3 boosted the photo-catalytic degradation of MB dye. • Co, Ce co-doped MoO 3 promoted enhanced hydrogen evolution due to efficient charge separation. • Co, Ce co-doped MoO 3 produced the specific capacitance of 1342 F/g with 93 % retention after 12000 cycles. • Optimal co-doping of Co and Ce investigated, the optimal sample is Ce 0.04 Co 0.04 Mo 0.92 O 3 .