Modified Y2O3-coated biosilica with Dysprosium nanomaterials: synthesis, characterization, optical study with enhanced catalytic activity

Dy-doped Y2O3 coated biosilica nanostructures with variable Dy3+ contents were synthesized by a facile hydrothermal technique. The products were characterized by means of energy dispersive X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (EDX), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, and photoluminescence spectroscopy techniques. As claimed by XRD, the particles were crystallized excellently and attributed to the cubic phase of Y2O3. The influence of substitution of Dy3+ ions into Y2O3 lattice caused a redshift in the absorbance and a decrease in the bandgap of as-prepared coated compounds. The pore volume and BET specific surface area of Dy-doped Y2O3 -coated diatomite is greater than uncoated biosilica. The sonophotocatalytic activities of as-synthesized specimens were evaluated for the degradation of Reactive Blue 19. The effect of various specifications like ultrasonic power, various scavenger, and catalyst amount was explored. The results revealed that diatomite coated with Dy3+-incorporated yttrium oxide nanoparticles can be utilized in various experimental cycles with no significant drop in photocatalytic activity.