Lattice Distortion Creates Enhancements in Photocatalytic and Electrocapacitive Performance of Sol–Gel-Derived Cu-Doped NiTiO3
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Date
2025
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Abstract
A remarkable 35% enhancement in the photocatalytic and electrocatalytic abil
ities of an ilmenite nickel titanate (NiTiO3) material is reported. This boost in
catalytic performance is achieved by simply creating a static distortion in the
rhombohedral unit cell by replacing a small proportion of a small-size nonde
generate Ni (69 pm) with a large-size degenerate Cu (73pm). The materials are
synthesized by using a simple sol–gel method. The appropriate doping amount of
Cu facilitates the better separation of intrinsic charge carrier pairs by inhibiting
their recombination. The photocatalytic and electrochemical activities of durable
materials in aqueous MB dye (10ppm) and KOH (1molar) electrolyte solutions
are found to be directly associated with this improvement in inherent charge
carrier transfer characteristics. The enhanced photodissociation of MB dye
(42–56%) and specific capacitance (381–450 F g 1) in a KOH (1molar)electrolyte
are in full accord with the investigations carried out using crystallographic and
optoelectronic analysis, charging–discharging measurements, and electro
chemical impedance (EIS) spectroscopy investigations. Same material with high
textural surface areas or controllable particle morphologies might show a far
better photo/electrocatalytic performance in a variety of practical applications.