Development of visible-light-active Fe2O3-hBN photocatalysts for sustainable degradation of emerging pollutants under simulated sunlight conditions

Abstract

• Fe2O3-hBN composites were synthesized via a facile dry impregnation method and evaluated under simulated solar light. • An optimal Fe2O3 loading of 0.5 wt% achieved enhanced photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue and ibuprofen. • The Fe2O 3 -hBN heterostructure exhibited improved charge separation and suppressed electron-hole recombination. • Superoxide radicals and photogenerated holes were identified as the dominant reactive species. In this work, Fe 2 O 3 -hBN composites with different Fe 2 O 3 loadings (0.2-2 wt%) were synthesized via a dry impregnation approach and evaluated as sustainable photocatalysts for water purification. The materials were comprehensively characterized using XRD, SEM, TEM, XPS, FTIR, UV-Vis, PL, and N 2 adsorption-desorption analyses to elucidate their structural, optical, and surface properties. Under simulated solar irradiation, the 0.5 wt% Fe 2 O 3 -hBN composite showed the most efficient photocatalytic activity among the tested materials. Approximately 80% removal of methylene blue and more than 70% degradation of ibuprofen were achieved within 120 min, highlighting the superior performance of this composition. This improvement was attributed to enhanced visible-light absorption and a reduced band gap (2.7 eV). Radical scavenging experiments identified photogenerated holes (h*) and superoxide radicals (O 3 *- ) as the main reactive species. The composite exhibited excellent stability and reusability across multiple cycles. These findings highlight Fe 2 O 3 -hBN as an efficient and eco-friendly photocatalyst for sustainable water remediation applications.