Browsing by Author "Aadil M."
  • Institution Publication
    Synergistic effect of binary metal doping and nanotechnology to boost the light-harvesting properties of rare earth metal oxide
    ( 2023-01-01)
    Ishfaq M.
    ;
    Kousar T.
    ;
    hussain M.
    ;
    Somaily H.
    ;
    Mubeen S.
    ;
    Potrich E.
    ;
    Panduro-Tenazoa N.M.
    ;
    Salam M.A.
    ;
    Ejaz S.R.
    ;
    Aadil M.
    Material scientists are currently focusing on employing photocatalytic materials to detoxify household and industrial waste to tackle rising water pollution problems. Narrow-bandgap materials are more valuable than other photocatalysts due to their visible light-harvesting characteristics. In this research, binary metal-doped cerium oxide (3 mol % Cd, 5 mol % Zn–CeO2 = CZC-1 and 5 mol % Cd, 3 mol % Zn–CeO2 = CZC-2) photocatalysts were successfully prepared through the facile and affordable co-precipitation method. The crystal structure, chemical functionality, morphology, composition, and optical behavior of the as-prepared binary metal-doped cerium oxide samples were explored via advanced physiochemical techniques. UV–Vis spectroscopy revealed that the CZC-2 photocatalyst possessed a relatively lower bandgap (2.15 eV) than the counterpart (CZC-1); hence it could be used as a visible-light triggered catalyst. The binary metal-doped photocatalyst's dye and microbe degradation efficacies were compared using methylene blue and P. Vulgaris, respectively. The CZC-2 photocatalyst showed superior dye degradation activity and mineralized almost 97% dye after 60 min irradiation time. Even after five reuse cycles, the recyclability tests showed that the catalytic efficiency of CZC-2 NPs only dropped by 4.5%. The CZC-2 photocatalyst's high photocatalytic activity and long-term stability show that the CZC-2 nanoarchitecture can be used in practical ways to clean up the environment.
  • Institution Publication
    Synthesis of binary metal doped CeO2 via the subcritical hydrothermal method for photo-mineralizing methyl orange dye
    ( 2023-10-15)
    Ishfaq M.
    ;
    Aadil M.
    ;
    Ejaz S.R.
    ;
    Hassan W.
    ;
    Panduro-Tenazoa N.M.
    ;
    El Sayed M.E.
    ;
    Murshed M.N.
    ;
    El-Bahy Z.M.
    Herein, we adopted subcritical hydrothermal method to synthesize the copper and bismuth co-doped CeO2 (Ce0.92Cu0.04Bi0.04O2) nanostructure for water remediation application. Copper and Bismuth co-doping synergistically improved the current conductivity and light-harvesting capabilities of the co-doped CeO2 that is respectively confirmed through current-voltage and optical studies. The microstructural, compositional and morphological information of the as-synthesized photocatalyst were accessed through powder XRD, and electronics spectroscopic techniques. In terms of practical application, the as-prepared co-doped CeO2-based photocatalyst mineralized the anionic dye (methyl orange, MO) up to 95.79%, at the rate of 0.0314 min−1, in just 50 min of solar irradiation. Statistics show that our Ce0.92Cu0.04Bi0.04O2 photocatalyst is 2.32 times more effective at mineralizing MO dye, and its rate of dye mineralization is 5.5 times faster than a CeO2 photocatalyst. In addition, the Ce0.92Cu0.04Bi0.04O2 photocatalyst possesses exceptional robustness as it fully retains its photocatalytic activity after three consecutive reusability tests. Our doped photocatalyst's excellent dye mineralizing activities come from the way its hybrid nanostructure morphology, good current conductivity, visible-light-supported bandgap, and induced structural defects work together. This gives it a larger surface area, a faster charge transport rate, better light harvesting ability, and lower charge recombination efficiencies. The copper and bismuth co-doping in the CeO2 lattice have a positive effect on its photocatalytic properties, suggesting that it has the potential to be a light-driven catalyst for azo dyes degradation.