Pr3+ engineered ZnO photocatalyst: Elucidating the role of bandgap shift and oxygen vacancies in dye degradation under natural solar light

Key Points

• Dye degradation improves significantly with a bandgap shift in the engineered ZnO photocatalyst, enhancing efficiency.
• Increased presence of oxygen vacancies contributes towards more effective dye degradation under natural solar light exposure.
• This analysis focused on the impact of the Pr3+ dopant on the photocatalytic properties of ZnO, revealing crucial insights.
• Highlights the potential for sustainable solutions in dye degradation using natural solar light and innovative photocatalytic materials.