Kinetic and thermodynamic study in piezo degradation of methylene blue by SbSI/Sb(2)S(3) nanocomposites stimulated by zirconium oxide balls

Mechanical energy harvesting by piezoelectric materials to drive catalysis reactions received extensive attention for environmental remediation. In this work, SbSI/Sb(2)S(3) nanocomposites were synthesized as a catalyst. ZrO(2) balls were used as an alternative mechanical force to ultrasonic for stimulating the piezocatalyst for the first time. The kinetics and thermodynamics of the piezo degradation of methylene blue (MB) were studied deeply. Besides the effect of the type of mechanical force, the number of ZrO(2) balls, and temperature of the reaction on the degradation efficiency were studied. Here mechanical energy came from the collision of the ZrO(2) balls with the catalyst particles. Using ZrO(2) balls instead of ultrasonic vibration led to enhance degradation efficiency by 47% at 30 ± 5 °C. A kinetic study revealed that piezo degradation of methylene blue (MB) by SbSI/Sb(2)S(3) catalyst followed pseudo-second-order kinetics. Based on thermodynamic results piezo degradation of MB was an exothermic reaction.