arXiv subjects

Manal Benyoussef

Publications and source records attributed to Manal Benyoussef.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Improvement of piezocatalytic performance of Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3 perovskite using K doping for efficient Rhodamine B degradation

Piezocatalysis, based on the piezoelectric properties of catalysts, breaks down the barrier between mechanical energy and chemical energy. It describes the use of charges induced by piezoelectricity to assist typical chemical processes while harvesting various forms of mechanical green energy. The performance of piezocatalysis is predominantly governed by the piezoelectric properties of materials. The main aim of this work is to evaluate and analyze the potential of potassium doped sodium bismuth titanate Na0.5-xKxBi0.5TiO3 abbreviated as NKxBT (0, 0.15, 0.20, and 0.25), as a piezocatalyst in the degradation of the organic dye Rhodamine B RhB under ultrasonic vibration. The synthesis of NKxBT nanopowders was conducted using the sol-gel autocombustion method. Coupled structural analysis reveals the presence of an intermediate Morphotropic Phase Boundary (MPB, where two phases coexist) in the optimal NK15BT composition. The piezocatalytic degradation results showed a total piezo-degradation in only 90 min and a rate constant 8 times higher than the undoped NK0BT. The enhanced piezocatalytic activity results from a synergistic effect of MPB presence, reduced particle size, optimal bandgap and high lattice strain. The NK15BT sample also demonstrated good reusability and good mineralization.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2026

Rapid and Highly Efficient Synergistic Sonophotocatalytic Degradation of Methyl Orange with CuDoped LaFeO3 Perovskite Nanoparticles

The integration of sonocatalysis with photocatalysis offers a powerful strategy for advanced wastewater treatment by overcoming rapid charge carrier recombination in conventional photocatalytic systems. Although these processes are often treated separately due to their distinct mechanisms, their combination creates a highly efficient synergistic system. In this study, we investigate the sonophotocatalytic degradation of methyl orange (MO) using Cu-doped LaFeO3 perovskite nanoparticles. The Cu doped catalyst demonstrated excellent performance, achieving a degradation rate of 0.0455 min-1 and complete removal of MO within 120 minutes under combined ultrasonic and light irradiation. A strong synergistic effect was observed, with a synergy index of approximately 10, highlighting the enhanced interaction between sonocatalysis and photocatalysis. The catalyst also exhibited good stability and reusability, maintaining high efficiency over four consecutive cycles. Mechanistic studies using scavenger experiments revealed that hydroxyl radicals and photogenerated holes are the main reactive species responsible for degradation. A plausible reaction pathway is proposed based on these findings. Overall, Cu doped LaFeO3 shows superior sonophotocatalytic activity compared to the undoped material, demonstrating the potential of synergistic sonophotocatalytic processes for efficient pollutant removal.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2020

Structural, dielectric, electrocaloric, and energy storage properties of lead free Ba$_{0.975}$La$_{0.017}$(ZrxTi$_{0.95-x}$)Sn$_{0.05}$O$_3$ (x = 0.05; 0.20) ceramics

A-site deficient Ba$_{0.975}$La$_{0.017}$(ZrxTi$_{0.95-x}$)Sn$_{0.05}$O$_3$ (x = 0.05; 0.20) ceramics (BLaZ100xTS) were synthesized using the solid-state reaction. The microstructural study revealed a high density and low porosity in the studied ceramics. Besides, grain size lower than 1.5 micrometer was observed in the studied compounds, which is due to the incorporation of the rare earth element (lanthanum). X-ray diffraction and Raman studies revealed that BLaZ5TS and BLaZ20TS crystallize in a perovskite-type structure with tetragonal and cubic symmetry, respectively. The dielectric study showed a normal ferroelectric-paraelectric phase transition for BLaZ5TS while a diffuse phase transition is noticed for BLaZ20TS sample. The energy-storage density and the associated energy efficiency were determined from the P-E loops versus temperature and the calculated values are comparable with results obtained on BCZT systems. Furthermore, the adiabatic temperature change (Delta)T was calculated through the indirect method and a relatively high value of (Delta)T/(Delta)E = 0.2 10-6 K m/V is obtained in BLaZ5TS system. The simultaneous presence of energy storage property and electrocaloric responsivity makes this system a promising environmentally friendly candidate for application in electronic devices.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2020

Rare-earth effect on the physical properties of Na$_{0.5}$Bi$_{0.5}$TiO$_3$ system: A Density Functional Theory investigation

Na$_{0.5}$(Bi$_3$/4RE$_{1/4}$)$_{0.5}$TiO$_3$ (RENBT, RE = Nd, Gd, Dy, and Ho) compounds were investigated in the framework of first-principles calculations using the full potential linearized augmented plane wave (FP-LAPW) method based on the spin-polarized density functional theory implemented in the WIEN2k code. Combined charge density distribution and Ti K-edge x-ray absorption spectra revealed that the RENBT compositions with high polarization values were accompanied by a higher TiO$_6$ distortion, DyNBT, and NdNBT compounds. The effect of the rare-earth elements on the polarization were confirmed experimentally with the collection of the hysteresis loops. The investigation of the electronic properties of the compounds highlighted the emergence of a magnetization owing to the 4f orbital effect of the rare-earth elements. Besides, the investigation of the chemical ordering showed a short-range chemical ordering for the pure composition and an increased A-site disorder for dysprosium doped NBT system. The increased disorder may speak for increased relaxor properties in the RE doped compositions.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2020

Complex impedance and Raman spectroscopy of Na$_{0.5}$(Bi$_{1-x}$Dy$_x$)$_{0.5}$TiO$_3$ ceramics

In this work structural refinement, complex impedance spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy have been investigated on Na$_{0.5}$(Bi$_{1-x}$Dy$_x$)$_{0.5}$TiO$_3$ (xDyNBT) ceramic systems. The pure NBT, 2DyNBT and 5DyNBT compounds crystallize in a rhombohedral structure while the 15DyNBT composition crystallizes in an orthorhombic Pnma structure. We reported that dysprosium addition affects the phase transition temperatures as well as the dielectric losses. The electrical transport at high temperatures was investigated using the CIS over a wide frequency range. The studied samples showed a non-Debye type process, with a short-range relaxation for the pure NBT and a coexistence of both localized and long-range relaxations of charge carriers for the 2DyNBT and 5DyNBT compounds. For the high concentration, 15DyNBT, a short-range relaxation is observed. Moreover, using a brick-layer model we discuss the resistance and capacitance of the different contributors (grain and grain boundaries) in our samples. High temperature Raman spectroscopy investigation was performed in order to follow the temperature evolution of the structural transformations on ferroelectric compounds. Anomalies in the temperature evolution of the vibrational modes are seen to correlate well with the temperature transitions observed from dielectric measurements.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2020

Electrical and structural properties of pure and dysprosium doped $Na_{0.5}Bi_{0.5}TiO_{3}$ system: DFT and Monte Carlo simulation

The chemical ordering, electrical, optical, and magnetic properties of $Na_{0.5}Bi_{0.5}TiO_{3}$ (NBT) and 25$\%$ dysprosium doped NBT (DyNBT) were investigated in the framework of first-principles calculations using the full potential linearized augmented plane wave (FP-LAPW) method based on spin-polarized density functional theory implemented in the WIEN2k code. We demonstrated that NBT structure is stable in the 001 A-site configuration, while DyNBT presents an A-site disorder perceived by the minimal energy difference between the different A-site configurations. A significant magnetic moment of $5μB$ emerges in DyNBT system, while NBT is known to be non-magnetic. Dysprosium in NBT matrix seems to form an ionic bonding with oxygen atoms whereas Bi-O forms covalent bonding which is responsible for the decrease of the polarization value from 42.3 $μC/cm^{2}$ for NBT to 22.08 $μC/cm^{2}$ for the doped compound. In the second part, the transition temperature and the hysteresis loops of $Na_{0.5}(Bi_{1-x}Dy_{x})_{0.5}TiO_{3}$ system x = 0 - $25\%$ were investigated using the Monte Carlo simulation. We observed a decrease in the transition temperature as a function of dysprosium introduction. We pointed out from the hysteresis loops, an apparent decrease of the coercive field together with the remanent polarization as a function of doping and also as a function of temperature. Our proposed model was seen to approach the values of experimental studies.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗