Enhanced photocatalytic property of Cu doped Ce2Zr2O7 toward photodegradation of methylene blue under visible light
Razan A. Alshgari,
Muhammad Abdullah,
Syed Imran Abbas Shah,
Abdul Ghafoor Abid,
Saikh Mohammad,
Muhammad Fahad Ehsan,
Muhammad Naeem Ashiq,
Suleyman I. Allakhverdiev
Affiliations
Razan A. Alshgari
Department of Chemistry, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Muhammad Abdullah
Department of Chemistry, Government College University, Lahore, Pakistan
Syed Imran Abbas Shah
Institute of Chemical Sciences, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, 60800, Pakistan; Corresponding author.
Abdul Ghafoor Abid
Institute of Chemical Sciences, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, 60800, Pakistan
Saikh Mohammad
Department of Chemistry, Government College University, Lahore, Pakistan
Muhammad Fahad Ehsan
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, 02115, MA, USA
Muhammad Naeem Ashiq
Department of Chemistry, Government College University, Lahore, Pakistan
Suleyman I. Allakhverdiev
Controlled Photobiosynthesis Laboratory, К.А. Timiryazev Institute of Plant Physiology RAS, Botanicheskaya Street 35, Moscow, 127276, Russia; Institute of Basic Biological Problems, Russian Academy of Sciences, Institutskaya Street 2, Pushchino, Moscow Region, 142290, Russia; Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Institutsky lane 9, Dolgoprudny, Moscow region, 141700, Russia; Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Bahçeşehir University, Istanbul, Turkey; Corresponding author. Controlled Photobiosynthesis Laboratory, К.А. Timiryazev Institute of Plant Physiology RAS, Botanicheskaya Street 35, Moscow, 127276. Russia.
Widespread ecosystem degradation from noxious substances like industrial waste, toxic dyes, pesticides, and herbicides poses serious environmental risks. For remediation of these hazardous problems, present study introduces an innovative Cu-doped Ce₂Zr₂O₇ nano-photocatalyst, fabricated via a simple, eco-friendly hydrothermal method, designed to degrade toxic textile dye methylene blue. Harnessing Cu doping for pyrochlore Ce2Zr2O7, structure engineering carried out through a hydrothermal synthesis method to achieve superior photocatalytic performance, addressing limitations of rapid charge carrier recombination in existing photocatalysts. Photoluminescence analysis showed that doped pyrochlore slows charge carrier recombination, boosting dye degradation efficiency. UV–Visible analysis demonstrated an impressive 96 % degradation of methylene blue by Cu-doped Ce2Zr2O7 within 50 min, far exceeding the performance of pristine materials. Trapping experiments clarified the charge transfer mechanism, deepening our understanding of the photocatalytic process. These findings highlight the potential for developing innovative, highly efficient photocatalysts for environmental remediation, offering sustainable solutions to combat pollution. This study not only addresses the limitations of existing photocatalysts but also opens new avenues for enhancing photocatalytic performance through strategic material design.