Sunlight driven NbSe₂ photocatalyst for efficient degradation of Janus green and methylene blue dyes

With the world increasingly facing the challenge of dye pollution in water bodies, niobium diselenide (NbSe₂) nanoparticles have emerged as promising photocatalysts for environmental remediation. In this study, NbSe₂ nanoparticles were synthesized at room temperature, 70 °C, and 100 °C, and employed for the photodegradation of organic dyes Janus green (JG) and methylene blue (MB)-under natural sunlight. The synthesized nanoparticles were thoroughly characterized to confirm their phase composition, crystalline structure, morphology, and functional groups. Photocatalytic performance was evaluated through degradation efficiency and kinetic modeling using pseudo-first and pseudo-second-order reaction models. Results demonstrated that higher synthesis temperatures enhanced photocatalytic activity, with nanoparticles synthesized at 100 °C achieving > 99% degradation of JG and up to 98% for MB. The kinetic data fit best with the pseudo-first-order model, indicating a direct relationship between synthesis temperature and reaction rate constants. These findings underscore the pivotal role of synthesis temperature in tuning the photocatalytic properties of NbSe₂ nanoparticles and affirm their potential in combating dye pollution through efficient solar-driven degradation processes.