The efficacy of samarium loaded titanium dioxide (Sm:TiO2) for enhanced photocatalytic removal of rhodamine B dye in natural sunlight exposure

Abstract

The photolysis method was used to successfully synthesize nanoparticles of pure TiO2 and TiO2-doped with 1,3 and 5% Sm3+ for degrading Rhodamine B (RhB) dye under sunlight. The nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscope-energy dispersive x-ray (FESEM-EDX), X-photoelectron spectrum (XPS), Raman spectrum, and UV-Visible spectrum (UV–Vis). The results from XRD and Raman showed the formation of anatase phase for prepared and doped TiO2. According to the Debye Scherrer equation, particle size decreased as Sm3+ concentration increased, reaching 4.56 nm at 5% Sm:TiO2. For the synthesized material, FE-SEM revealed a spherical agglomeration. The XPS spectrum revealed that 1% Sm:TiO2 was successfully doped, while the UV-Vis spectrum revealed that the energy gap decreased as the concentration of Sm3+ increased. Cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and chronopotentiometry were used to examine the electrochemical characteristics of pure and Sm:TiO2 under dark and light conditions (CP). The results show that the catalyst behaves as a pseudocapacitor when the Sm3+ ratio rises, as does the conductivity. The HPLC, LC/Mass, and GC/Mass were used to determine the products and photodegradation mechanism. The production of two isomer intermediates was detected in the data (EER and DR...…). Under direct sunlight, the photocatalytic degradation of RhB using%5 Sm:TiO2 was adjusted by varying pH, catalyst dosage, dye dosage, and temperature. After 120 min, the decreasing efficiency had reached 89%.