| Summary: | We report the synthesis of high quality undoped and Ca doped CeO2 quantum dots by sol–gel method. Composition, structure and morphology of the quantum dots were analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray analysis (SEM-EDX), High resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The cubic structure of the CeO2 quantum dots were determined by XRD. The influence of particle size on structural parameters such as Lattice parameter (a), Dislocation density (δ), Micro strain (ε) and Crystallite size (D) were also determined. SEM-EDX analysis shows the morphology and the presence of elements in the sample and HRTEM micrograph of CeCa5 shows uniform morphology with narrow size distribution. The FTIR analysis confirmed the influence of Ca doping in CeO2 matrix. The efficiency of photocatalytic degradation of CeO2 quantum dots increases with increasing of Ca doping concentration. The photodegradation rate of CeCa5 quantum dots (84%) are enhanced in comparison with bare and other doped samples towards the degradation of methylene blue (MB) dye under direct sunlight irradiation. This can be attributed to the improved separation of electron – hole pairs and superior adsorption caused by the presence of Ca. Keywords: Ceria quantum dots, Photocatalytic, Degradation efficiency, Solar light, Photoluminences
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