A comprehensible approach to enhanced photocatalytic efficiency of boron-doped carbon quantum dots: organic dyes compared to herbicides

Boron-doped carbon quantum dots (B-CQDs) have emerged as promising photocatalysts due to their tunable electronic properties, strong visible light absorption, and high stability. This study investigates the photocatalytic activity of B-CQDs for the degradation of organic dyes, such as rose bengal, and herbicides, including fluroxypyr, clomazone, and Quinmerac, under UV light irradiation. The research aims to elucidate the mechanisms governing the photocatalytic efficiency of B-CQDs and to compare their performance in degrading structurally diverse pollutants. The results indicate that B-CQDs exhibit significantly higher photocatalytic activity toward organic dyes compared to herbicides. This enhanced performance is attributed to the strong adsorption of dyes on the B-CQD surface, the susceptibility of their chromophores to reactive oxygen species (ROS), and the potential synergistic photosensitization effects of the dyes. In contrast, the chemical stability and weaker adsorption of herbicides limit their degradation efficiency, despite the ROS generation capabilities of B-CQDs. These findings highlight the potential of B-CQDs as efficient photocatalysts for environmental remediation, particularly for the treatment of dye-laden wastewater. However, the study also emphasizes the challenges associated with degrading more stable pollutants like herbicides, pointing to the need for further optimization of catalyst design and process conditions. This research advances understanding of B-CQD photocatalysis and offers insights into their selective environmental application.