Synthesis and characterization of Zeolite-LTA (Linde type A) / polyaniline (PANI) composite for combined photocatalytic degradation of organic dyes and supercapacitor applications

In this study, Zeolite-LTA/PANI, a low-cost and environmentally friendly composite was successfully synthesized and investigated for dual applications in photocatalytic dye degradation and electrochemical energy storage. The structural and morphological characterization confirmed the successful incorporation of cubic Zeolite-LTA structures within the conductive PANI matrix. SEM analysis revealed clustered cubic nanostructures, while XRD analysis confirmed the crystalline cubic phase with an average crystallite size of approximately 32 nm. BET analysis demonstrated a high surface area of 92.800 m²/g, indicating the porous nature of the composite. The synthesized Zeolite-LTA/PANI exhibited excellent photocatalytic activity under sunlight irradiation, achieving degradation efficiencies of 92% for Congo Red (CR) and 91% for Crystal Violet (CV), confirming its effectiveness in dye removal from wastewater. Furthermore, the composite demonstrated superior electrochemical performance with a high specific capacitance of 531.8 F/g and a capacitance retention of 90.81% after 5000 charge–discharge cycles, indicating excellent cyclic stability. A detailed photocatalytic and charge storage mechanism was proposed to explain the synergistic interaction between Zeolite-LTA and PANI. The obtained results demonstrate that the Zeolite-LTA/PANI composite is a promising multifunctional material for sustainable environmental remediation and high-performance energy storage applications.