Enhanced photocatalytic degradation of organic dyes from aqueous environment using neodymium-doped mesoporous layered double hydroxide

• Published in: Journal of rare earths Vol. 40; no. 10; pp. 1554 - 1563
• Main Authors: Wani, Ajaz Ahmad, Khan, Amjad Mumtaz, Manea, Yahiya Kadaf, Salem, Mansour A.S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.10.2022
• Subjects: Degradation; LC-MS; Mesoporous; Multifunctional; Organic pollutants; Rare earths; Degradation; LC-MS; Organic pollutants; Mesoporous; Rare earths; Multifunctional
• ISSN: 1002-0721; 2509-4963
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jre.2021.09.007

Neodymium-doped Zn–Al layered double hydroxide (Nd/Zn-Al LDH) with excellent photocatalytic activity was prepared by a one-step hydrothermal method. The morphology and physicochemical properties of as-synthesized photocatalysts were well analyzed by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), photoluminescence (PL), UV-diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV-DRS), and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface analysis. Doping Nd3+ into Zn–Al LDH enhances the overall catalytic activity of the nanocomposite, like better electron–hole pair separation, increase in interplanar distance, fast electron transfer, and large surface area. The as-prepared nanocomposite shows excellent degradation of three different dyes under visible light irradiation. The degradation efficiency of these dyes follows the order of Congo red > rose Bengal > fast green. Furthermore, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) was employed to propose a possible photocatalytic degradation pathway for Congo Red and Rose Bengal dyes by Nd/Zn–Al LDH. With the help of radical trapping experiments, it is revealed that during the photoexcitation process, the primary reactive intermediates are hydroxyl radicals. [Display omitted]