High-efficiency RhB dye degradation using β-FeOOH nanorods via tribocatalysis

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Environmental Chemistry
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Tribocatalysis offers a sustainable approach for energy technologies and water remediation.
• Developing efficient, economically viable, and environmentally friendly catalysts is crucial for practical tribocatalytic systems.
• Beta-iron oxyhydroxide (β-FeOOH) nanostructures are explored for their potential catalytic properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the tribocatalytic activity of β-FeOOH nanorods.
• To systematically examine how morphological features (diameter, surface area, roughness) influence catalytic performance.
• To elucidate the structure-activity relationship for optimizing tribocatalytic materials.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis and characterization of β-FeOOH nanorods with varying morphological features.
• Evaluation of tribocatalytic activity under ultrasonic vibration for the degradation of rhodamine B (RhB).
• Mechanistic studies to understand the role of friction-generated ions and radicals.

Main Results:

• Nanorod diameter was identified as a critical factor influencing tribocatalytic performance.
• Optimized β-FeOOH nanorods (β-FeOOH-100 °C) demonstrated rapid RhB degradation (complete mineralization in 30 min) with a high rate constant (0.19 min⁻¹).
• The catalyst exhibited excellent stability and mechanistic studies confirmed the generation of reactive hydroxyl (˙OH) and superoxide (˙O₂⁻) radicals.

Conclusions:

• β-FeOOH nanorods, particularly those optimized for diameter, show significant promise as tribocatalysts.
• The study establishes a clear structure-activity relationship, guiding the design of advanced tribocatalytic materials.
• This research positions β-FeOOH nanorods as a viable platform for utilizing mechanical energy in organic-contaminated wastewater treatment.