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A novel photocatalyst composed of bismuth molybdate (Bi 2 MoO 6 , BMO) coupled with rhodium (Rh) nanoparticles was synthesized and evaluated for its efficiency in degrading dye contaminant under visible light irradiation. The BMO/Rh composite demonstrated a significant enhancement in photocatalytic performance, achieving a 40 % higher degradation rate of Rhodamine B (RhB) compared to bare BMO. Enhanced charge separation and reduced electron-hole recombination were primarily attributed to the synergistic effects introduced by the Rh nanoparticles. Extensive characterization techniques provided insights into the structural and mechanistic aspects of the photocatalyst. Stability tests confirmed that BMO/Rh maintained over 95 % of its initial activity after five consecutive reaction cycles, highlighting its durability. Scavenger experiments identified superoxide radicals (•O 2 -) and hydroxyl radicals (•OH) as the primary active species, contributing to the high efficiency of dye degradation. This study underscores the potential of BMO/Rh hybrids as sustainable and effective photocatalysts for environmental remediation. • Enhanced a BMO/Rh photocatalyst that improves dye degradation by 40 % under visible light. • Achieved improved charge separation with Rh nanoparticles, reducing electron-hole recombination. • Maintained over 95 % photocatalytic activity after five cycles, demonstrating high stability. • Quantified active radicals' roles in improving dye degradation efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photocatalytic degradation of organic dyes in wastewater using visible light illumination is a green technology which requires efficient visible-light driven active catalytic material. For this, we have reported a novel visible light active Eu/WO 3 system with variation in europium contents (0, 2%, 4% and 6% Eu), which demonstrated enhanced photocatalytic activity for the degradation of various organic dyes including methylene blue (MB), methyl orange ((MO) and rhodamine B (RhB). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffractometer (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), UV–visible spectroscopy and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy were used for the characterization of nanostructures. The results showed that Eu has effective role in modifying the structural, morphological and optical properties of WO 3 photocatalyst. Moreover, the photocatalytic performance of WO 3 was improved due to incorporation of Eu. From results, it was seen that photocatalytic activity increases with increasing Eu concentration upto 4%, however, further increase in Eu concentration (6%) has decreased the performance under these condition for all dyes. The enhanced photocatalytic efficiency could be attributed to suppressed recombination of charge carriers and enhanced visible light absorption and increased BET surface area due to Eu doping into WO 3 photocatalyst. The as-synthesized nanostructures will be considered as a promising photocatalytic materials for the future research in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, we demonstrate a facile way of fabricating visible-light-active lanthanum and nitrogen – co-doped SrTiO 3 – TiO 2 heterostructured macroporous monolithic materials with bicontinuous morphology by impregnating strontium and lanthanum ions into a preformed porous TiO 2 gel in aqeuous solution containing urea followed by heat treatment in NH 3 atmosphere. The SrTiO 3 macroporous monolithic materials were formed by a solid-state reaction between the TiO 2 gel phase and precipitated SrCO 3 , while Sr 2+ was partially substituted with La 3+ ions. The SrCO 3 was precipitated within the TiO 2 wet gel by the reaction between impregnated Sr 2+ and CO 2 , which was produced by hydrolysis and decarbonation of a chelating agent in the TiO 2 wet gels and by hydrolysis of urea at 60 °C. X-ray powder diffraction studies showed that the incorporation of strontium, lanthanum, and nitrogen could effectively retard the phase transformation of TiO 2 from anatase to rutile and growth of crystallites. XPS analysis confirmed that lanthanum atoms were incorporated into the SrTiO 3 lattice by substituting strontium atoms, and nitrogen was incorporated in the TiO 2 lattice (i) substitutionally forming Ti – N-bonds and (ii) interstitially. The resultant lanthanum and nitrogen – co-doped SrTiO 3 - TiO 2 heterostructured monolithic materials retained a narrow macropore size distribution at the diameter ∼1.7 μ m. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present work demonstrates a facile hydrothermal synthesis of Plasmonic Au–TiO 2 nanocatalyst followed by its successful application for complete photocatalytic dye degradation (oxidation) in batch and continuous flow process under natural sunlight as well as visible and UV light. The Au-TiO 2 nanocatalyst was synthesized by a hydrothermal method at basic pH conditions. It was meticulously analyzed by a variety of spectroscopic (UV-Vis, Raman, FTIR, PL, Powder XRD, ED-XRF, XPS), microscopic (FE-SEM with elemental mapping, TEM), and thermal (DSC) techniques. The characterization results showed that monodisperse Plasmonic Au(0) nanoparticles with a mean diameter of 12 ± 1 nm are homogeneously deposited on Anatase TiO 2 crystals. The nanocatalyst showed complete photocatalytic degradation of various dye compounds (Eosin Yellowish, Indigo Carmine, Methyl Orange, Methylene Blue, and Rhodamine B) under visible light or sunlight as confirmed through UV-Vis spectra, mass spectral study, and TOC analysis of dye solutions. A continuous flow process using a specially designed photoreactor was accomplished with a long catalyst lifespan, easy processibility, and low cost. Easy synthesis of the catalyst, its very detailed characterization, and its efficient catalytic studies to completely degrade various dye molecules under visible light source in the absence of any added oxidizer (O 2 , H 2 O 2 , KMnO 4 , Organic peroxides) and the demonstration of continuous flow process are significant highlights of the present work. A plausible mechanistic pathway is also presented in line with the previous literature reports and presently observed phenomenon. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]