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- Conflict of Interest
- In relation to this article, we declare that there is no conflict of interest.
- Publication history
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Received February 20, 2026
Accepted June 5, 2026
Available online October 25, 2026
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This is an Open-Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/bync/3.0) which permits
unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
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M-FeCO3 (M=Ni, Co, Zn) Layered Double Hydroxides: A Multifunctional Materials for Enhanced Dye Sensitized Solar Cell and Advanced Oxidation Performance
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11814-026-00769-1
Abstract
In this study, M-FeCO3 (M=Ni, Co, Zn) layered double hydroxide (LDH) was synthesized via a co-precipitation method
and systematically characterised to evaluate their multifunctional performance in environmental remediation and solar
energy applications. Structural analysis (XRD, FTIR, TEM, SEM with EDS, BET, UV-Vis, and XPS) confirmed wellordered
layered structures with high crystallinity, minimal defects, spherical like morphology, average particle size
(5–15 nm), large specific surface areas (31.01-101.41 m2
/g), tunable band gaps (1.98–2.50 eV), which enable superior
charge separation. XPS analysis revealed the presence of Ni2+, Co2+/Co3+, Zn2+, and Fe3+ species with strong M-O bonding
in the synthesized LDH materials. Among the catalysts, ZnFe-LDH achieved complete sonophotocatalytic degradation
of azo (BBY), triarylmethane (MG), and xanthene (EY) dyes, while exhibiting excellent reusability by retaining the high
MG dye degradation efficiency over the three successive cycles. Radical scavenging and fluorescence studies confirmed
•
OH and O2
•− as the dominant reactive oxygen species (ROS). Simultaneously, the synthesized LDH was incorporated as a
photoanode in dye sensitized solar cell (DSSC), where ZnFe-LDH achieved a maximum photovoltaic efficiency of 3.06%
attributed to its tunable band gap, higher surface area, and reduced recombination resistance. The integrated high performance
in both sonophotocatalysis pollutant degradation and DSSC application underscores the multifunctional character
of the LDHs materials. This dual use capability emphasizes their potential as sustainable, low-cost materials for integrated
environmental remediation and solar energy conversion, aligning with green chemistry and circular-economy targets.
