Facile fabrication of $$\hbox {CeO}_{2}$$CeO2 nanomaterials by hydrothermal methods and their photocatalytic and hydrophobic properties

$$\hbox {CeO}_{2}$$ nanomaterials were synthesized by a simple hydrothermal method, and their photocatalytic and hydrophobic properties were systematically investigated. $$\hbox {CeO}_{2}$$ nanomaterials displayed excellent photocatalytic properties, and under UV light irradiation, 98.5% Rhodamine B was degenerated by $$\hbox {CeO}_{2}$$ nanomaterials grown on Ni foam. After chemical modification with 1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorodecyl-triethoxysilane (PFDTES), $$\hbox {CeO}_{2}$$ nanomaterials showed good hydrophobic properties and water contact angles were in the range of $$124{-}135^{\circ }$$ . The hydrophobic property of the $$\hbox {CeO}_{2}$$ nanomaterials contributed to the self-assembled membrane also with hydrophobic properties on the surface of the treated $$\hbox {CeO}_{2}$$ nanomaterials with PFDTES. Therefore, the study not only presents a facile method to fabricate $$\hbox {CeO}_{2}$$ nanomaterials, but also demonstrates the promising applications of $$\hbox {CeO}_{2}$$ in the treatment of waste water and self-cleaning of building materials. CeO $$_{2}$$ nanomaterials exhibited the good photocatalytic and hydrophobic properties. The hydrophobic property was due to the self-assembled membrane with hydrophobic properties.