Sol-gel synthesis, characterizations of efficient Y³⁺ doped ZnO nanoparticles for photocatalytic dye degradation and energy storage applications

In this study, we report on the crystallographic, optical, and electrochemical properties of Yttrium (Y³⁺) doped ZnO nanoparticles synthesized by using the sol-gel method. The incorporation of Y³⁺ ions resulted in a significant reduction in the optical bandgap, from 3.26 eV for pure ZnO to 2.67 eV for Y-C nanoparticles, improving their light absorption capacity under visible light. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed a hexagonal wurtzite structure, showing an increase in crystallite size with the incorporation of Y³⁺ doping. This was accompanied by superior photocatalytic performance, where Y-B (4% Y³⁺) doped ZnO nanoparticles exhibited remarkable 97% degradation efficiency for methylene blue (MB), 4.4 times greater than that of undoped ZnO. Electrochemical analysis revealed an improvement in specific capacitance, ranging from 20.56 F/g to 75.88 F/g at various scan rates, highlighting the potential of Y-ZnO as a material for energy storage applications. These enhancements can be attributed to the unique influence of Y³⁺ ions, which induce lattice expansion and promote charge transfer efficiency. The synthesized Y³⁺ doped ZnO nanoparticles can be potential candidates for industrial applications such as environmental remediation through photocatalysis, and energy storage devices like supercapacitors.