Development of visible-light-active Fe₂O₃-hBN photocatalysts for sustainable degradation of emerging pollutants under simulated sunlight conditions

In this work, Fe₂O₃-hBN composites with different Fe₂O₃ loadings (0.2–2 wt%) were synthesized via a dry impregnation approach and evaluated as sustainable photocatalysts for water purification. The materials were comprehensively characterized using XRD, SEM, TEM, XPS, FTIR, UV–Vis, PL, and N₂ adsorption-desorption analyses to elucidate their structural, optical, and surface properties. Under simulated solar irradiation, the 0.5 wt% Fe₂O₃-hBN composite showed the most efficient photocatalytic activity among the tested materials. Approximately 80% removal of methylene blue and more than 70% degradation of ibuprofen were achieved within 120 min, highlighting the superior performance of this composition. This improvement was attributed to enhanced visible-light absorption and a reduced band gap (2.7 eV). Radical scavenging experiments identified photogenerated holes (h*) and superoxide radicals (O₃^*-) as the main reactive species. The composite exhibited excellent stability and reusability across multiple cycles. These findings highlight Fe₂O₃-hBN as an efficient and eco-friendly photocatalyst for sustainable water remediation applications.