Catalysis Letters最新文献

{"title":"Al–Zn Codoped BaTiO3 with Intrinsic Defect Engineering: A New Route to Colossal Permittivity and High-Performance Organic Pollutant Remediation","authors":"Suzan Makawi,&nbsp;Moufida Boukriba,&nbsp;Ali Moulahi","doi":"10.1007/s10562-026-05473-7","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10562-026-05473-7","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>This work introduces a newly engineered Al–Zn co-doped BaTiO₃ system that simultaneously exhibits a colossal dielectric permittivity and outstanding photocatalytic performance for multifunctional applications in high-density energy storage and environmental remediation. The photocatalytic activity of pure and Al–Zn co-doped BaTiO₃ ceramics was systematically investigated for the degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) and malachite green (MG) dyes in aqueous media under natural sunlight irradiation. Both pure and codoped samples crystallize in a single-phase tetragonal perovskite structure without detectable of any secondary phases, confirming structural stability upon codoping. Incorporation of Al and Zn ions induces a significant microstructural refinement, yielding uniformly distributed fine grains. The band structure modulation is achieved through codoping, narrowing the optical band gap from 3.2 to 2.81 eV, thereby extending light absorption into a broader spectral range. XPS analysis confirms the presence of Ba²⁺, Ti⁴⁺/Ti³⁺, Al³⁺, and Zn²⁺ oxidation state, along with the formation of oxygen vacancies which play a crucial role in enhancing the charge separation and interfacial activity. Al–Zn codoped composition (BaTi_0.96Al_0.02Zn_0.02O₃) displays a high dielectric permittivity of 21,395 at 100 Hz with stable low-frequency behavior, highlighting its potential for advanced energy storage applications. Besides, BaTi_0.96Al_0.02Zn_0.02O₃ catalyst demonstrates a rapid and efficient photocatalytic degradation of &gt; 97% for both RhB and MG within 30–35 min, along with excellent reusability and structural stability. This study proves that the strategic of Al–Zn codoping into BaTiO₃ effectively integrates defect engineering, band structure tuning, and microstructural control to achieve a high dielectric constant and environmental remediation performance within a single material platform.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div><div><p>Al–Zn co-doped BaTiO₃ exhibits enhanced dielectric properties and efficient visible-light photocatalytic degradation of organic dyes, enabling multifunctional energy and environmental applications.</p></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":508,"journal":{"name":"Catalysis Letters","volume":"156 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-07-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148465624","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Nanoarchitectured Eggshell-Like Co/W Bimetallic MOF as a Selective Catalyst for Cyclohexene Oxidation","authors":"Xiaonan Shi,&nbsp;Weiru Liu,&nbsp;Ruigang Feng,&nbsp;Haikun Zhai,&nbsp;Xin Zhang,&nbsp;Yujing Jia,&nbsp;Guodong Liu,&nbsp;Chongdian Si,&nbsp;Gongguo Zhang,&nbsp;Qingtao Niu,&nbsp;Manman Jin","doi":"10.1007/s10562-026-05462-w","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10562-026-05462-w","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>A nanoarchitectured eggshell-like Co/W bimetallic metal-organic framework (Co_<i>x</i>W_<i>y</i>-ZIF) nanoreactor was synthesized <i>via</i> a dissolution-regrowth process using ZIF-67 as a sacrificial template. The morphological evolution from rhombic dodecahedra to flower-like aggregates and finally to hollow eggshell-like nanocages was systematically controlled by tuning the Co/W ratio. Among the prepared catalysts, Co_71.56W_28.44-ZIF featured a well-defined eggshell-like architecture with a large pore size of 9.50 nm. XPS analysis revealed that its bimetallic shell is composed of Co(OH)₂ and CoWO₄ phases, which originate from the coordinated etching and regrowth process. This unique hollow structure not only facilitates mass transfer and enhances substrate accessibility but also provides abundant and stable redox-active sites due to the synergistic coexistence of Co and W species. In the catalytic oxidation of cyclohexene (CHE) using acetonitrile as solvent and H₂O₂ as oxidant, Co_71.56W_28.44-ZIF achieved 76.5% CHE conversion and an outstanding 79.5% selectivity to 2-cyclohexen-1-one (2-one), outperforming catalysts with higher surface areas but less favorable pore architectures. Moreover, the catalyst demonstrated good recyclability and structural stability over four consecutive runs, as confirmed by XRD, FT-IR, and SEM. These results highlight that the synergy between morphological control and compositional engineering is key to overcoming the trade-off between activity and selectivity in alkene oxidation.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":508,"journal":{"name":"Catalysis Letters","volume":"156 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-07-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148465579","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Phosphorus-Doped MoO3/Gd2O3 S-Scheme Heterojunction: Fast Charge Transfer and Efficient Oxytetracycline Degradation","authors":"Wenjing Wu,&nbsp;Lijing Wang,&nbsp;Yanming Kuang,&nbsp;Xiangyu Xu,&nbsp;Yang Yi,&nbsp;Jiaming Liu,&nbsp;Qizhi Wu,&nbsp;Benjie Zhao,&nbsp;Yonggao Yue","doi":"10.1007/s10562-026-05469-3","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10562-026-05469-3","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>P-MoO₃-Gd₂O₃ S-scheme heterojunction photocatalyst was constructed through in-situ thermal decomposition of sodium phosphomolybdate combined with hydrothermal strategy. The results showed that P was uniformly doped into the MoO₃ lattice, and Gd₂O₃ was closely combined with P-MoO₃ at the nanoscale. The specific surface area of the composite material increased to 49.34 m²/g, and the surface hydrophilicity was significantly improved. The construction of the S-scheme heterojunction moderately extends the lifetime of photogenerated carriers. Photocatalytic experiments demonstrated that the degradation activity of P-MoO₃-Gd₂O₃ towards oxytetracycline was significantly higher than that of pure Gd₂O₃ and P-MoO₃, maintaining good catalytic performance in the pH range of 7 to 13, and showing resistance to common cations in water. Based on Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) result, three parallel pathways of deamination, side chain cleavage, and aromatic ring opening were proposed. Computational toxicology simulation suggests that the small-molecule intermediates possess lower toxicity than OTC, whereas early degradation intermediates still exhibit high ecological risks. This research provides an idea for the preparation of S-scheme heterojunction photocatalysts for the purification of water contaminated by antibiotics.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":508,"journal":{"name":"Catalysis Letters","volume":"156 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-07-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148465621","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Reaction Mechanisms and Low-Temperature Performance of Cu-Doped Magnesium-Based Catalysts for NOx Removal with Enhanced Sulfur Resistance","authors":"Luyu Zeng,&nbsp;Zhennan Sun,&nbsp;Yu Gao,&nbsp;Mingda Liu,&nbsp;Lijuan Ji,&nbsp;Xuehua Yu","doi":"10.1007/s10562-026-05461-x","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10562-026-05461-x","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The simultaneous removal of nitrogen oxides (NOx) at low temperatures with high catalytic efficiency and strong sulfur resistance remains a major challenge in environmental catalysis. In this study, a novel magnesium-based catalyst was prepared via the sol-gel method, with calcination temperature and copper (Cu) doping used as key parameters to optimize catalytic performance. The results show that Cu doping significantly improved the dispersion of active catalytic sites, broadened the operating temperature window, and enhanced low-temperature catalytic activity. Among the magnesium-based catalysts, the sample calcined at 600 °C exhibited the highest NOx removal efficiency, reaching 73.75% at flue gas temperatures above 160 °C. Notably, Cu doping further improved the denitrification performance of the catalyst calcined at 500 °C, achieving a NOx conversion rate of 82.7%, which highlights its potential as an efficient low-temperature catalyst. Comprehensive characterization by BET, XRD, SEM, and NH3-TPD revealed that Cu doping preserved the crystal structure and surface functional groups of the magnesium-based catalyst while significantly increasing surface acidity and the density of active acid sites. In addition, Cu doping markedly enhanced the sulfur resistance of the catalyst, overcoming a key limitation for industrial application. This study provides an effective and environmentally sustainable NOx removal strategy for magnesium kiln industries and other small- to medium-scale industrial operations, offering a promising pathway toward greener industrial processes.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":508,"journal":{"name":"Catalysis Letters","volume":"156 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-07-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148465622","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"CuS Nanoflower-Supported Co3O4 p–p Heterojunction Interface Structure for Efficient Oxygen Evolution Reaction","authors":"Erjun Yang,&nbsp;Ruixue Luo,&nbsp;Bowen Duan,&nbsp;Renchun Fu","doi":"10.1007/s10562-026-05468-4","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10562-026-05468-4","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Copper sulfide (CuS) exhibits significant advantages as an electrocatalyst in energy conversion and storage, particularly in electrocatalytic reactions. Heterogeneous electrocatalysis typically involves charge transfer between the electrocatalyst surface and the reactants. In this study, a Co₃O₄/CuS p–p heterojunction was synthesized using a facile hydrothermal method, followed by high-temperature calcination. Its electrocatalytic performance toward the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) was evaluated. The as‑prepared Co₃O₄/CuS nanoparticle electrocatalysts exhibited relatively high activity toward the OER, requiring only a low overpotential of 347 mV to achieve a current density of 10 mA cm⁻², outperforming most copper‑based catalysts. The intricate flower‑like morphology enhanced the contact between reactant molecules and the catalyst surface. The results indicated that the electric field at the Co₃O₄/CuS p–p heterojunction interface, originating from the energy level mismatch, facilitated charge transfer and improved the conductivity of the heterojunction electrocatalyst. Furthermore, spontaneous electron transfer at the Co₃O₄/CuS heterogeneous interface induced local charge redistribution, facilitating the electrostatic adsorption of OH⁻ at the interface. The as‑prepared Co₃O₄/CuS p–p heterojunction exhibited a well‑tuned electronic structure and demonstrated outstanding electrocatalytic activity toward the OER. This study proposes a novel strategy for regulating the surface and interface charge states of electrocatalysts, thereby enhancing their OER catalytic activity, and provides a new avenue for the discovery of superior electrocatalysts.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":508,"journal":{"name":"Catalysis Letters","volume":"156 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-07-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148465578","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Base-Free Oxidative Esterification of 1,2-Propanediol to Methyl Lactate Over Au/CuO","authors":"Yinhu Shi,&nbsp;Jiping Ma,&nbsp;Yunwei Zhang,&nbsp;Shuwei Wang,&nbsp;Xinhong Wang","doi":"10.1007/s10562-026-05472-8","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10562-026-05472-8","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The selective and sustainable production of methyl lactate from biomass-derived polyols remains a significant challenge due to the frequent requirement of homogeneous bases. Herein, an integrated Au/CuO catalyst is reported for the base-free oxidative esterification of 1,2-propanediol to methyl lactate. The Au/CuO catalyst exhibits superior catalytic performance compared with Au supported on other oxides, affording high conversion and selectivity under optimized conditions. Systematic studies reveal that moderate Au loading and reaction conditions are crucial for suppressing over-oxidation and C-C bond cleavage. Mechanistic investigations suggest that the reaction proceeds via parallel oxidation pathways involving both primary and secondary hydroxyl groups, while the Au-CuO interface plays a key role in regulating intermediate oxidation and stabilizing methyl lactate. This work highlights the importance of metal-oxide interfacial effects in base-free oxidative esterification and provides a sustainable route for methyl lactate production from renewable polyols.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":508,"journal":{"name":"Catalysis Letters","volume":"156 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-07-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148465577","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Electrothermal Toluene Catalytic Oxidation Strategy Over Manganese-Cobalt Composite Oxide Monolithic Catalyst","authors":"Yongfeng Li,&nbsp;Guifeng Zeng,&nbsp;Fei Ye,&nbsp;Zhi Liu,&nbsp;Zhiheng Liang,&nbsp;Chaoqiang Huang","doi":"10.1007/s10562-026-05458-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10562-026-05458-6","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>An electrothermal monolithic catalyst of in-site growing manganese-cobalt composite oxide (MnO_x-CoO_x) active component on the Ni foam (NF) substrate was prepared by an one-step composite electrodeposition method. And the MnO_x-CoO_x/NF catalyst was investigated in a special electrothermal toluene catalytic oxidation (ETCO) strategy by direct utilizing the internal Joule heating from the catalyst itself. Compared to the conventional toluene catalytic oxidation (CTCO) strategy, the catalyst in the ETCO strategy can significantly reduce the total electric power consumption over 50 times, exhibiting superior energy utilization efficiency. In addition, the catalyst in the ETCO strategy reaction can decrease about 60 ℃ of reaction temperature for achieving 90% toluene conversion in contrast to the CTCO reaction. According to the characterization results, the ETCO strategy can greatly enhance the concentration of Mn(II)/Co(III) oxidation states and chemically adsorbed oxygen species in catalyst, and promote the surface oxygen mobility and catalyst reducibility, thereby leading to the low-temperature complete oxidation of toluene.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":508,"journal":{"name":"Catalysis Letters","volume":"156 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-07-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148465951","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Tailoring the Surface Chemistry and Interfacial Architecture of CuZnAl Catalysts Via the Cu/Zn Ratio for Highly Selective Dehydrogenation of 1,4-Butanediol to γ-Butyrolactone","authors":"Siqi Zhang,&nbsp;Huiling Wu,&nbsp;Lingchen Meng,&nbsp;Haodong Li,&nbsp;Bofan Liu,&nbsp;Dechen Wang,&nbsp;Shenghua Yuan","doi":"10.1007/s10562-026-05474-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10562-026-05474-6","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The growing demand for γ‑butyrolactone (GBL) as an essential solvent for lithium‑ion battery electrolytes has attracted considerable interest in its high efficiency synthesis. The dehydrogenation of 1,4‑butanediol (BDO) offers an atom‑economical and environmentally friendly pathway to produce GBL. However, the lack of investigation into the dehydrogenation mechanism and structure–activity relationships hinders further optimization of the industrially predominant CuZnAl catalyst. Herein, a series of CuO-ZnO-Al₂O₃ catalysts with Cu/Zn molar ratios of 0.5, 1 and 2 were prepared and evaluated using dehydrogenation of BDO to GBL as a model reaction. The results indicate that C₁ZA with an equimolar Cu/Zn ratio achieved the optimal performance with 99.6% BDO conversion and 98.7% GBL yield at 220 °C (LHSV = 1.0 h^− 1, H₂/BDO = 5), along with outstanding reaction stability over 240 h. Structural characterization results show that the Cu/Zn ratio governs the Cu⁺/Cu⁰ proportion, the generation of Cu-ZnO_x interfacial species and the distribution of Lewis acid, Brønsted acid as well as basic sites. With a Cu/Zn ratio of 1, the C₁ZA catalyst delivered the highest Cu⁺/Cu⁰ ratio, the most abundant Cu-ZnOₓ interfacial sites, and a Lewis‑acid‑dominated surface bearing very few Brønsted acid and strong base sites. This combination of characteristics accelerated the desired two‑step dehydrogenation-hemiacetalization cascade while inhibiting competing dehydration and acetalization pathways, thus yielding the highest GBL selectivity. These findings highlight a cooperative interaction between interfacial electronic structure and surface acid-base properties that collectively governs dehydrogenation selectivity, thus offering design principles for highly selective Cu‑based dehydrogenation catalysts.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3><div><figure><div><div><picture><img></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":508,"journal":{"name":"Catalysis Letters","volume":"156 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-07-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148465954","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Bio-derived Porous NiO Nanostructures for Multifunctional Electrochemical Applications: Glucose Sensing, Supercapacitive Energy Storage, and Water Splitting","authors":"Manjusha Mathew,&nbsp;P. H. Gangadharagowda,&nbsp;K. Chandana,&nbsp;G. T. Vidyavathi,&nbsp;Ebin Sebastian,&nbsp;K. Yogesh Kumar,&nbsp;Arun Varghese","doi":"10.1007/s10562-026-05464-8","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10562-026-05464-8","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The importance of multifunctional materials for various energy and biomedical applications is attracting the attention of scientists worldwide. In this study, <i>Moringa-oleifera</i> plant extract was used for the synthesis of highly porous NiO nanostructures. The confirmation of the successful formation of the nanostructures was done by XRD, FT-IR, FE-SEM, and BET analyses. A high surface area of 121.6 m²/g was shown by the synthesized NiO. The synthesized electrocatalyst was utilized as a sensor, supercapacitor electrode, and an electrode for HER and OER analyses. The sensing studies detected the presence of glucose upto 1 µM, which ensured the efficient activity of the material towards glucose oxidation. The supercapacitance studies ensured a higher specific capacitance of 623.4 F/g at a current density of 1 A/g. The efficacy of the synthesized NiO towards electrocatalytic water splitting was analyzed primarily through linear sweep voltametric studies. The HER studies showed a lower overpotential of 187 mV at a current density of 10 mA/cm². The overpotential demonstrated by the material for OER at a current density of 5 mA/cm² was 398 mV. The results confirmed the efficient multifunctionality of the <i>Moringa-Oleifera</i> plant extract aided synthesized NiO nanostructures.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div><div><p>Multifunctional electrochemical usage of porous NiO nanostructures</p></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":508,"journal":{"name":"Catalysis Letters","volume":"156 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-07-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148465342","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Sustainable Hot-Water-Assisted Low-Temperature Crystallization of Pure TiO2 Thin Films: A Route to Stable and Reusable Photocatalysts for Water Treatment","authors":"Sihem Nezar,&nbsp;Manel Boukezzoula,&nbsp;Djamila Maghnia,&nbsp;Oualid Baghriche,&nbsp;Frank Neumann,&nbsp;John Kiwi","doi":"10.1007/s10562-026-05466-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10562-026-05466-6","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Low-temperature surface modification strategies for TiO₂ thin films remain critical scalable and substrate compatible photocatalytic devices. Herein, we investigate the influence hot water assisted treatment at 95 C° for 72 h on the structure, optical, and photocatalytic performance of pure sputtered TiO₂ thin films. X-Ray Diffraction revealed the formation of anatase phase with an average crystallites size of ~ 25.6 nm attend by super-hydrophilicity (contact angle &lt; 20°). Raman spectroscopy confirm anatase peaks at 144 cm^− 1 and 638 cm^− 1, corresponding to O–Ti–O vibrational modes, while FT-IR spectra exhibited stronger O–H vibrations, indicating enhanced hydroxylation. Photoluminescence (PL) spectra revealed emission peaks at 640, 480 and 525 nm, attributed to oxygen vacancies, indicating the presence of defect-related energy states. The treatment showed high transmittance exceeding 95.5%, and reduces the optical band gap from 3.36 eV to 3.21 eV, due to increased density of oxygen vacancies and Ti^+ 3 defects states that enhance photocatalytic activity. Under low-intensity UV-visible irradiation, photocatalytic performance revealed MB discoloration from 5% (untreated films) to 68% (treated films). The addition of H₂O₂ (10 mM) further accelerated degradation, achieving complete MB mineralization within 4 h. Recycling experiments confirmed stable activity over eight cycles with negligible Ti-ion leaching (&lt; 3 ppb). These findings highlight the strong structure activity relationship in thermally pure sputtered TiO₂ thin films and their potential for efficient, durable, and reusable photocatalytic applications in pollutant removal.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":508,"journal":{"name":"Catalysis Letters","volume":"156 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-07-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148380199","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}