f‐Clay‐@Zr‐Mn/CNT Semiconductor Hybrid for Highly Efficient EBT Dye Degradation in Aqueous Media

ABSTRACT Developing raw material catalysts has significant interest in addressing the limitations of conventional materials in the photodegradation of persistent organic dyes. The present report demonstrates the synthesis of clay‐doped Zr‐Mn/carbon nanotube (CNTs) nanocomposite via a simple and eco‐friendly co‐precipitation route, followed by clay modification. Comprehensive characterization using FTIR, XRD, and SEM with EDX confirmed the crystallinity of Zr and Mn, successful doping of clay, and homogeneous dispersion of CNTs across porous matrix. The photocatalytic efficiency was systematically assessed through degradation of Eriochrome Black T (EBT) dye in aqueous media under UV–vis irradiation at neutral pH (pH = 7). Using 0.01 g of photocatalyst in 40 mL of a 50 ppm EBT solution, 97.6% dye degradation was achieved within 50 min after an initial dark adsorption period of 20 min, following pseudo‐first‐order kinetics with a rate constant of 0.09 min −1 ( R 2 = 0.99). These results demonstrate the promise of the f‐Clay@Zr‐Mn/CNTs nanocomposite as a low‐cost and highly effective photocatalyst for the rapid removal of organic pollutants from wastewater.