A simple route has been successfully developed to prepare pure neodymium zirconate nanostructures with high photocatalytic efficient. Neodymium zirconate has been prepared utilizing maleic acid as new stabilization agent. The effects of the type and dosage of esterification agent and space-filling template kind on the shape, particle size and photocatalytic activity of neodymium zirconate were investigated. It is found that these factors play effective roles in controlling the shape, size and photocatalytic activity of neodymium zirconate. The obtained neodymium zirconate was characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy and energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis (EDX). To compare the catalytic characteristics of the formed neodymium zirconate samples, the photocatalytic degradation of eosin Y contaminant was carried out.
