Enhanced photocatalytic, dielectric, and ferromagnetic properties of Mn-doped KNbO3/Ti3C2

Potassium Niobate, a lead-free perovskite material with high stability, non-toxicity, and chemical inertness, has gathered significant attention for energy storage and conversion, as well as photocatalytic applications. KNb 1-x MnxO 3 /Ti 3 C 2 nanohybrid was synthesized via a conventional hydrothermal method, substituting Mn for niobium at the niobium site of KNbO 3 . The X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis of the nanohybrid at room temperature confirmed the presence of pure single-phase KNbO 3 in all hybrid samples, while the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) study showed that Mn-doped KNbO 3 particles were homogeneously and intimately embedded within the nanosheets of MXene. The room temperature ferromagnetism reveals the presence of Mn doping at the Nb site. The photocatalytic activity was observed by the degradation of antibiotics under UV and visible lights. The results showed that nearly 70–80% of Ciprofloxacin and 60% of Levofloxacin were degraded within 3 h. These results demonstrate that KNb 1-x MnxO 3 /Ti 3 C 2 nanohybrids exhibit robust enhanced photocatalytic, dielectric, and ferromagnetic properties, rendering them multifunctional materials suitable for high-performance energy storage capacitors, energy harvesting, and photocatalysis. • KNbO 3 is promising material for energy storage and photocatalytic applications. • The Mn-doping and integration with Ti 3 C 2 , improved lattice structure. • Ferromagnetism increased remanent polarization at room temperature. • Enhanced photocatalytic degradation of antibiotics observed with novel KNbO 3 /Ti 3 C 2