Fabrication of High Entropy ZrO2-based Composite for Rapid Photocatalytic Degradation of Dyes

In this work, we report chromium, iridium and europium-doped zirconium oxide (C_xI_yE_zZ_25-xyz) nanocomposites synthesized via the solid-state method. The composite materials were explored for the photocatalytic degradation of an organic dye Erichrome Black T (EBT). The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed rod-like morphology for the composite. Zirconium oxide-based composites showed optical band gap energies ranging from 1.8 to 3.2 eV. The composite C_xI_yE_zZ_25-xyz exhibited fast degradation of 92% EBT dye within 60 min. The active species trapping experiment were conducted, which enabled the identification of the agents responsible for the enhanced degradation of EBT, including hydroxyl radicals, superoxide, and holes. The Langmuir-Hinshelwood model narrated the degradation of EBT following a pseudo-first-order mechanism. The reported composite also showed higher recyclability and stability. The outcomes show that the (C_xI_yE_zZ_25-xyz) photocatalysis approach using H₂O₂ assistance has a lot of potential applications in organic pollution removal and environmental purification.