Efficient visible-light photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine B dye based on water-stable (4,4′-VDP)Pb2Br6 perovskites

Abstract

Rhodamine B (RhB) is a dye extensively used in the textile industry; however, it poses significant environmental challenges due to its high stability in aquatic environments. To address this issue, we have successfully synthesized a water-stable organic–inorganic hybrid perovskite material [(4,4′-VDP)Pb₂Br₆] and applied it for the first time for the photocatalytic degradation of RhB in aqueous solutions. Results demonstrate that (4,4′-VDP)Pb₂Br₆ is a highly efficient photocatalyst, which achieved over 96% degradation of RhB within 60 minutes of illumination and nearly complete degradation after an extended irradiation for 100 minutes, following reaction kinetics consistent with a pseudo-first-order model. Moreover, the material retained a stable photocatalytic activity over five consecutive cycles without significant loss in its performance, highlighting its excellent reusability and stability. The unchanged X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns before and after the photocatalytic reaction confirm the exceptional structural stability of (4,4′-VDP)Pb₂Br₆ and further validate its outstanding water stability. These findings indicate that the as-prepared (4,4′-VDP)Pb₂Br₆ material holds great promise for practical applications owing to its high degradation efficiency and remarkable stability in aqueous environments.