Enhanced photocatalytic degradation activity of SrCeO3 nanophosphors: Aloe vera gel-mediated synthesis and UV light-driven eradication of Titan Yellow dye

Abstract

Efficient nanomaterials offer significant potential for environmental remediation by enhancing the degradation of pollutants and improving the sustainability of cleaning processes. In this study, SrCeO₃ nanophosphors (NPs) were synthesized utilizing the gel/solution combustion method and subsequently subjected to comprehensive structural, morphological, and optical characterization. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis revealed a predominant orthorhombic phase (Pnma) alignment of SrCeO₃ NPs, which is in agreement with the JCPDS card #01-083-1156, with a calculated crystallite size of 35.38 nm, corroborated by the Williamson-Hall (W–H) plot (37.15 nm). Absorption studies unveiled a distinctive band-gap value of 2.63 eV, indicating its potential for efficient visible-light-driven photocatalytic activity. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images showcased a coral-like morphology, while energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDAX) confirmed the presence of precursor elements. Further, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) of the as-prepared SrCeO₃ NPs confirmed the presence of metal-carbonate vibrations within the range of 1600-1200 cm⁻¹, along with metal-oxygen stretching in the range of 900-650 cm⁻¹. Raman spectroscopy exhibited an intense peak at 459.78 cm⁻¹, attributed to Ce–O (metal-oxygen) stretching. Excitation and emission spectra displayed characteristic bands at 255–300 nm and 450 nm, respectively, attributing to an effective charge transfer. Furthermore, the prepared SrCeO₃ NPs were evaluated using Titan Yellow (TY) for dye degradation studies. The results showed a predominant 97.67 % degradation aligning with 1st-order kinetics with k₁ = 0.118. In addition, investigation was carried out which presents a detailed insight into the plausible mechanisms of degradation of Titan Yellow, focusing on the important functions of azo bond cleavage, oxidation, and desulfonation. The results are meaningful in that they provide useful information regarding the environmental fate of Titan Yellow and its degradation pathways for wastewater treatment processes. This comprehensive study underscores the successful synthesis and potential applications of SrCeO₃ NPs in degrading organic dye molecules.