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Depollution of industrial dyes by nanocrystalline Ti0.95Bi0.025X0.025O2 (X = Zr, Nb): visible light harvesting, charge separation and high efficiency

  • Original Paper: Nano-structured materials (particles, fibers, colloids, composites, etc.)
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Abstract

The benefits of Bi3+, Zr4+ and Nb5+ dopants were employed to activate the visible light response and the photoactivity of TiO2 catalyst for organic dyes degradation. New catalysts composed of Ti0.95Bi0.025Zr0.025O2 and Ti0.95Bi0.025Nb0.025O2 were prepared thru precipitation route. The XRD verified that pure TiO2 has rutile-anatase mixture while Ti0.95Bi0.025Zr0.025O2 and Ti0.95Bi0.025Nb0.025O2 have a single anatase phase. The band gap of TiO2, Ti0.95Bi0.025Zr0.025O2 and Ti0.95Bi0.025Nb0.025O2 catalysts was identified to be 3.12, 3.02 and 2.89 eV, respectively. The SEM image of pure TiO2 showed the formation of spherical grains which become very finer in Ti0.95Bi0.025Nb0.025O2 powder while Ti0.95Bi0.025Zr0.025O2 sample displayed the formation of large grains. The TEM image of (Bi, Nb) codoped TiO2 powder exhibits homogenous spherical particles with mean size of 27 nm were seen. The depollution efficiencies of Ti0.95Bi0.025Zr0.025O2 and Ti0.95Bi0.025Nb0.025O2 catalysts for reactive yellow 145 (RY145), Congo red (CR) and methyl green (MG) dyes were superior compared to pure TiO2. The catalyst of Ti0.95Bi0.025Nb0.025O2 provides the highest photo-activity for degradation of 20 ppm RY145, CR and MG dyes with efficiency of 98%, 99% and 90%, besides practical recycling performance for three runs. The remarkable photocatalytic activity of Ti0.95Bi0.025Nb0.025O2 catalyst was attributed to visible light-activation (2.89 eV) and effective charge separation stimulate by Bi3+ and Nb5+ ions. These findings reflect the opportunities and profit of the treated Ti0.95Bi0.025Nb0.025O2 catalyst on utilizing unlimited solar energy for depollution industrial effluents.

Graphical Abstract

Highlights

  • Nanocrystalline Ti0.95Bi2.5X2.5O2 (X = Zr, Nb) photocatalysts.

  • Tuning the band gap energy and visible light response.

  • Reactive yellow 145, Congo red and Methyl green dyes pollutants.

  • Ti0.95Bi2.5Nb2.5O2 catalyst exhibits a photo-removal efficiency of 90–99% (80 min).

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Acknowledgements

The authors extend their appreciation to the Deputyship for Research & Innovation, Ministry of Education in Saudi Arabia for funding this research work through project no. (IFKSURG-2-1445).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

    Sobhy M. Yakout

  2. Department of Botany and Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

    Mohamed E. El-Zaidy

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  1. Sobhy M. Yakout
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Yakout, S.M., El-Zaidy, M.E. Depollution of industrial dyes by nanocrystalline Ti0.95Bi0.025X0.025O2 (X = Zr, Nb): visible light harvesting, charge separation and high efficiency. J Sol-Gel Sci Technol 107, 417–429 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10971-023-06124-8

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