Promising Potential of Nanostructured DyFeO3 Photocatalyst for Environmental Remediation: Authenticity and Stability

Abstract

Understanding the authentic nature and stability of a photocatalyst through diverse experiments and calculations is crucial for advancing environmental remediation. In this study, we synthesized nano-sized DyFeO3 particles with a porous structure, featuring an average pore size of 40 nm, to meticulously evaluate their photocatalytic efficacy in degrading aquatic pollutants under solar irradiation. These nanoparticles exhibit a direct band gap of 2.1 eV, rendering them well-suited for effective solar light absorption. Additionally, the conduction band minimum (CBM) suggests potential participation in reduction reactions, while the valence band maximum (VBM) is conducive to oxidation reactions. To confirm the authentic catalytic efficiency of DyFeO3 photocatalysts, we assessed their ability to degrade both colored Rhodamine B (RhB) and colorless antibiotic Levofloxacin (LFX). Notably, their photocatalytic performance in decomposing the colorless pollutant LFX, alongside the colored RhB, eliminates any potential influence of dye sensitization. Moreover, the presence of DyFeO3 in the solution medium decreased the activation energy of LFX degradation from 38.4 kJ mol-1 1 K-1 to 34.1 kJ mol-1 K-1 , providing further evidence of their true catalytic function. Furthermore, their apparent Quantum Yield (AQY) values of 28.94% and 32.83% for RhB and LFX degradation, respectively, demonstrate superior solar energy harvesting capability compared to commercially available TiO2. The high degradation efficiency, high quantum yield, and excellent stability of single-structured DyFeO3 nanoparticles indicate their considerable potential for large-scale production in photocatalytic and related applications