Synthesis and characterization of Ce-BiOBr/Bi2S3 catalyst with enhanced catalytic activity for organic dye reduction under dark

Researchers are presently focused on finding catalysts to efficiently reduce organic dyes used in industries like textiles, cosmetics, and food, aiming to reduce environmental pollution. This study aims to synthesize highly efficient, stable, and non-toxic bimetallic catalysts to lessen the environmental impact of organic dyes such as methylene blue (MB), methylene orange (MO), and rhodamine B (RhB). A composite catalyst (denoted as Ce-BiOBr/Bi2S3), was synthesized using a co-precipitation method for the catalytic reductions of RhB, MB, and MO organic dyes under dark. The co-incorporation of Ce/S into BiOBr notably enhanced the catalytic reduction efficiency of the resulting Ce-BiOBr/Bi2S3 catalyst. Activated by NaBH4 as a source of H, the catalyst exhibited significant catalytic activity in reducing dyes under dark conditions. The findings indicate that Ce-BiOBr/Bi2S3 activated with NaBH4 can complete MO, MB, and RhB dyes within 10, 12, and 18 min. The porous structure of Ce-BiOBr/Bi2S3 boosts the reductions as it can intercept MO, MB, and RhB species. Moreover, the hopping of electrons between Ce-BiOBr and Bi2S3 components allows for providing the needed electrons for reduction. The synergistic combination of Ce-BiOBr and Bi2S3 components significantly improves the reduction of pollutants. The stability and reusability of Ce-BiOBr/Bi2S3 were evaluated and showed an excellent retaining efficiency of 95.2 % through six consecutive tests for the NaBH4-activated reduction. The porous structure, consisting of micro-rods and particle spheres in Ce-BiOBr/Bi2S3, contributed to its robust structure and reusability, establishing it as an excellent catalyst for environmental remediation. In conclusion, we strongly endorse the Ce-BiOBr/Bi2S3 catalyst, synthesized through environmentally friendly processes, for its high efficiency and promising potential for industrial applications.