CuMn2O4-BaTiO3 nanocomposites: Efficient photocatalysts for visible-light-driven degradation of tetracycline

Water pollution has recently emerged as one of the world's most severe problems, notably water pollution from organic pollutants. Photocatalysis has recently received much interest as one of the advanced oxidation processes that uses reactive oxygen species to eliminate organic contaminants. To overcome the challenges of fast recombination and instability, researchers are working on developing a recyclable and cost-effective photocatalyst. This study describes a facile pathway for the synthesis of Barium titanate (BaTiO₃) nanocrystals using a hydrothermal-calcination strategy, along with their integration with (5.0–20.0 wt%) CuMn₂O₄ (CMO) to form CMO-BaTiO₃ nanocomposites. Surface and optical investigations demonstrated a mesoporous structure, with surface areas between 113 and 125 m²/g and improved visible light capture capabilities, with a bandgap energy of at least 2.77 eV, making them suitable for photocatalytic uses under visible illumination. Moreover, the photocatalytic properties of CMO-BaTiO₃ have not been previously explored. The optimized 15% CMO-BaTiO₃ photocatalyst demonstrated exceptional performance in degrading Tetracycline (TC) antibiotic, achieving complete removal in 60 min over 2.0 g/L and total organic carbon removal of 93% with an elimination rate constant of 0.358 min^-1, retaining 90% of its original photocatalytic efficiency after five cycles. The enhanced photocatalytic activity is attributed to the formation of a CMO-BaTiO₃ heterojunction, which facilitates outstanding light capture and remarkable charge separation. This research manifests the potential of BaTiO₃-based photocatalysts in water remediation applications and corresponding industries.