Synthesis, Characterization, and Photocatalytic Activity of Dy2O3/Mn Nanostructures

Abstract

Abstract: The goal of this study is to synthesize and characterize manganese-doped Dy₂O₃ (Dy₂O₃/Mn) nanostructures for catalytic applications. To create materials with optimized morphological and structural properties, a low-cost hydrothermal route was used. Before being characterized, Dy₂O₃/Mn nanostructures were annealed at 500 °C. XRD measurements revealed that sample has a cubic phase structure, with a crystallite size of 37.7 nm. SEM and EDS techniques were used to examine the morphology and chemical composition, and the efficiency of the synthesis route was confirmed. Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy confirmed our samples' absorption in the visible region, and the band gap energy was found to be around 2.87 eV. Methylene blue (MB) dye was used to investigate the photocatalytic activity of Dy₂O₃/Mn nanostructures under visible light. Over six hours, a significant degradation efficiency was observed, with a degradation rate over 80%.

Keywords: Hydrothermal, Dy₂O₃/Mn, Optical properties, Methylene blue, Photocatalysis.