Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
International Journal of Engineering Inventions , cilt.14, sa.12, ss.83-92, 2025 (Hakemli Dergi)
The increasing contamination of water sources with uranium (Mn+2) poses a serious threat to environmental and human health. In this work, a CdSe/CdTe nanocomposite was synthesized via a facile two-step hydrothermal method and employed as a visible-light-responsive photocatalyst for the efficient removal of (Mn+2) from aqueous solutions. The CdSe/CdTe heterojunction effectively enhances charge separation through the formation of an internal electric field, significantly improving the photocatalytic reduction of (Mn+2) to less soluble uranium species. Under simulated solar light irradiation, up to 92 % of (Mn+2) (C₀ = 30 mg L⁻¹) was removed within 5 minutes without the need for sacrificial agents or inert gas protection. The photocatalyst exhibited excellent stability and reusability, maintaining its high efficiency even in the presence of competing ions. The synergistic interaction between CdSe and CdTe, combined with the intrinsic role of Te²⁻ as a hole scavenger, was found to be critical in enhancing the reduction kinetics. Benefiting from this synergistic effect, the (Mn+2) removal rate can be optimized to as high as 14.4 mmol g⁻¹ h⁻¹. This study demonstrates the potential of CdSe/CdTe nanocomposites as highly efficient, solar-driven materials for the photoremoval of (Mn+2), offering a sustainable approach to radioactive wastewater treatment.