Multifunctional Applications of Barium Zinc Vanadate (BaZnV2O7) Nanoparticles for Photocatalytic dye degradation, Energy Storage and Sensing Applications

The multifunctional characteristics of barium zinc vanadate (BaZnV2O7) nanoparticles (BZV NPs) are explored in this study, focusing on their photocatalytic activity, supercapacitor performance, and sensing abilities. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirms the crystallites are 40 nm in size, while ultraviolet-visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV-DRS) indicates an energy bandgap of 5.2 eV. Functional groups, elemental composition, and morphology are assessed using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDAX), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), respectively. The photocatalytic efficiency of BZV NPs is evaluated under varied catalyst dosages, dye concentrations, and pH levels, for the degradation of Acid Black-52 (AB-52) dye under UV light. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and galvanostatic charge discharge (GCD) analysis were carried out to understand the energy storage and cyclic stability of the BZV NPs modified carbon paste electrode. Additionally, a novel electrochemical sensor based on BZV is developed to detect biomolecules and chemical drugs accurately. BZV nanoparticles exhibit remarkable photocatalytic dye degradation upto 80.4 % indicating its application for waste water treatment. BZV NPs modified carbon paste electrode exhibited superior specific capacitance of 720 F/g with excellent cyclic stability over 1000 cycles. Electrodes efficiently detected biomolecules like ascorbic acid and uric acid, chemical drugs including paracetamol and ibuprofen, and heavy metals like mercury, cobalt, and cadmium in the 1- 5 mM concentration range. The limit of detection (LOD) was measured for all analytes and found that the electrode exhibits high sensitivity. These multifunctional properties make BZV a promising material for energy storage and environmental monitoring applications.