Rare Earth Element (REE) Nd³⁺ Doped CeO₂ Nanoparticles Using Aloe vera Leaf Extract: Structural, Optical and Antimicrobial Activity

Pure and Nd-doped cerium oxides (CeO₂, Ce_0.075Nd_0.025O and Ce_0.050Nd_0.050O) nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized using Aloe vera leaf extract. X-ray powder diffraction studies were confirmed that synthesized pure and Nd³⁺ doped CeO₂ NPs and were exhibited cubic structure. FE-SEM image exhibited pure and Nd³⁺ doped CeO₂ NPs have spherical structure and Nd doped CeO2 NPs small pores were formed in the surface. EDAX spectral analysis used to identify the elemental compositions. FT-IR spectra shows various functional groups and were identified for pure and Nd³⁺ doped CeO₂ NPs. UV-Vis spectra, absorption edges were observed at 314 nm, 324 nm and 357 nm for pure and Nd doped CeO2 NPs respectively. PL spectral analysis, small shift observed for emission of the CeO2 NPs values as compared to that of the Nd doped CeO2 NPs emission values. The antimicrobial studies were performed against a set of Gram positive (Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pneumoniae) and Gram negative (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus vulgaris, Klebsiella pneumonia and Shigella dysenteriae) bacterial and fungal candida albicans strain.