Investigation of the synthesis, structural, and functional insights into PbCuZnO nanocomposite for photocatalytic dye degradation application

AIM: This work investigates the development and visible-light-driven photocatalytic behavior of PbCuZnO nanocomposites for degrading Rhodamine B dye. The study emphasizes how multi-metal incorporation influences the structural, optical, and functional characteristics of the synthesized materials. MATERIALS AND METHODS: PbCuZnO nanocomposites containing 2 and 4% of Pb-Cu were prepared using a sol-gel assisted combustion method. Their structural, morphological, and elemental features were analyzed using XRD, FTIR, SEM, and EDX. Optical responses were examined through UV-visible spectroscopy and Tauc's plots. Photocatalytic efficiency under visible light was assessed using Rhodamine B as the target contaminant, and kinetic parameters were extracted using pseudo-first-order models. RESULTS: ⁻ species play dominant roles in the degradation mechanism. SIGNIFICANCE: enhances visible-light absorption, promotes charge-carrier separation, and improves the structural robustness of ZnO, yielding an efficient and reusable photocatalyst. These PbCuZnO nanocomposites therefore show strong potential for practical wastewater treatment and environmental clean-up applications.