Photocatalytic degradation of organic textile dyes using tellurium-based metal alloy

• Published in: Vacuum Vol. 199; p. 110960
• Main Authors: K, Mahendra, Fernandes, Jean Maria, Fernandes, Brian Jeevan, Bindu, K., Ramesh, K.P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.05.2022
• Subjects: Dual doping; Melt-cooling method; Metals and alloys; Photocatalytic dye degradation; Solar energy materials; Tellurium-based photocatalyst; Melt-cooling method; Dual doping; Metals and alloys; Tellurium-based photocatalyst; Photocatalytic dye degradation; Solar energy materials
• ISSN: 0042-207X; 1879-2715
• DOI: 10.1016/j.vacuum.2022.110960

The viability of tellurium (Te)-based Te90Si5Sn5 alloy synthesized using facile melt-cooling method is explored in the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB) and crystal violet (CV) dye molecules. The Te90Si5Sn5 alloy catalyst synthesized by doping Te host dually with Si and Sn dopants exhibits absorption in the visible region, favoring effective degradation of organic dye molecules in the solar spectrum. The synthesized material possesses a higher surface area and demonstrates higher photocatalytic activity for CV dye when compared to MB dye. •Dual-doped tellurium-rich Te90Si5Sn5 is synthesized using facile melt-cooling method.•Si–Sn doping and uniform distribution of the dopants in Te is confirmed.•Surface area of 155.608 m2/g with mesopores are confirmed from BET measurements.•High resolution TEM reveals spherical particles with spacing 0.54 nm.•Photo-degradation of 89% and 95% is observed for MB and CV dyes.