LAUSR

Abstract Heterogeneous La-doped CeO2 (LCO)-ZnO nanocomposites have been synthesized via a facile wet-chemical approach for multifunctional applications. It is found that such LCO-ZnO with the Zn/Ce ratio of 9:1 demonstrates the highest photoactivity under visible light irradiation. Apart from the photocatalytic application, this material has also been used as the electrolyte membrane of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). The best device of SOFC composed of 10% LCO-ZnO composite achieved 922 mW cm-2 output along with an open circuit voltage of 1.10 V at 550 °C. Heterogeneous semiconductor-ionic composite of the heterogeneous LCO-ZnO nanocomposite result in high charge-hole pairs separation and ionic conduction which attributes the efficient multifunctional activity of the synthesized material. The built-in field directed at the junction may promote ions (H+ and O2-) transport to pass through the semiconductor-ionic LCO-ZnO membrane layer. This work is the first discovery on the LCO-ZnO semiconductor-ionic materials as a potential candidate for renewable energies to electricity conversions.