Y2O3 nanoparticles with 2D morphology as reactive oxygen species scavengers under ultraviolet radiation conditions

Abstract

This study assessed the potential reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging activity of Y2O3 nanomaterials with 2D-like morphology in an UV radiation environment and in the Fenton system. The materials were synthesized by a simple chemical precipitation method and annealed in three different environments (air, argon, and hydrogen gas) at 500 °C for 1 h. The materials featured oxygen deficiency and surface defects, and prevented the photodegradation of the dye crystal violet (CV) in presence of TiO2 (P25) under broad-spectrum UV radiation (UVB and UVA). Y2O3 nanoparticles annealed in air prevented ROS-induced dye degradation by 20.5±0.7%, while the prevention rate for the other two particles annealed in Ar and H2 were 19.4±0.7% and 18.1±0.6%, respectively. Similarly, these nanoparticles prevented dye degradation in the Fenton system by 14.5±0.7%, 13.7±0.6%, and 12.0±0.7% for the Y2O3 annealed in Air, Ar, and H2 respectively. Therefore, the use of low atomic number (Z) yttria ceramic nanoparticles could be a promising material to prevent radiation related ROS damage in high-energy ionizing radiation (keV or MeV) conditions.