Department of Physics, University of Kotli Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Kotli, 11100, Pakistan.
Department of Physics, University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Muzaffarabad, 13100, Pakistan.
Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2024 Aug;31(40):53532-53551. doi: 10.1007/s11356-024-34753-1. Epub 2024 Aug 28.
Worldwide environmental challenges pose critical problems with the growth of the global economy. Addressing these issues requires the development of an eco-friendly and sustainable catalyst for degrading organic dye pollutants. In this study, copper-doped magnesium aluminates (CuMgAlO) with x = 0.0-0.8 were synthesized using a citrate-based combustion route. The inclusion of Cu(II) significantly impacted the structural, microstructural, optical, and photocatalytic activity of the catalyst. Rietveld analysis of X-ray diffraction powder profiles revealed single-phase spinels crystallized in the face-centered cubic unit cell with space group. Chemical states of the ions, surface morphology, and elemental investigation were analyzed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, respectively. UV-visible and diffuse reflectance spectroscopies confirmed the reduction of the band gap due to Cu(II) doping, validated by first-principle investigations using the WIEN2k code. The catalyst with x = 0.8 showed higher photocatalytic efficacy (90% and 93%) for removing two azo organic dye pollutants, rhodamine B and methyl orange, respectively, within 120 min. Degradation kinetics followed a pseudo-first-order mechanism. The doped (0.8) sample was structurally and morphologically stable and reusable under visible irradiation, retaining performance after three runs. Scavenger studies confirmed hydroxyl and superoxide radicals' involvement in the degradation. This work presents an effective approach to enhancing CuMgAlO catalysts' photodegradation performance, with potential applications in pharmaceuticals and wastewater remediation.
全球环境挑战对全球经济的增长构成了严峻问题。解决这些问题需要开发一种环保且可持续的催化剂，用于降解有机染料污染物。在这项研究中，采用基于柠檬酸盐的燃烧路线合成了 x = 0.0-0.8 的铜掺杂镁铝酸盐 (CuMgAlO)。Cu(II) 的掺入显著影响了催化剂的结构、微观结构、光学和光催化活性。X 射线粉末衍射图谱的 Rietveld 分析表明，催化剂为具有面心立方单元胞和空间群的单相尖晶石结晶。通过 X 射线光电子能谱、场发射扫描电子显微镜和能量色散 X 射线光谱分别分析了离子的化学状态、表面形貌和元素研究。紫外-可见漫反射光谱证实了由于 Cu(II)掺杂导致带隙减小，这一结果通过 WIEN2k 代码进行的第一性原理研究得到了验证。x = 0.8 的催化剂在 120 分钟内对两种偶氮有机染料污染物罗丹明 B 和甲基橙的去除效率分别高达 90%和 93%，显示出更高的光催化效能。降解动力学遵循准一级反应机制。掺杂（0.8）样品在可见光照射下具有结构和形态稳定性，可重复使用三次后仍保持性能。清除剂研究证实了羟基和超氧自由基参与了降解。这项工作提出了一种有效提高 CuMgAlO 催化剂光降解性能的方法，在药物和废水处理方面具有潜在应用。
