Photobleaching of face mask dyes BB and CR using novel BPPNTs-V2O5 nanotube composites: DFT studies of self-assembly and nanoclusters

Abstract

Abstract Self-assembly method demonstrated the viable production of 3,5-bistrifluoromethyl benzylamine derivative of phenylalanine nanotubes (BPPNTs). Nano-V2O5 composite of these BPPNTs has been synthesized and characterized. The reported nanocomposite shows a highly flexible nanotube structure that provides easy access to electrons when used as an electrocatalyst or photocatalyst. This promising platform is successfully applied in the electrochemical reaction by cyclic voltammetry. Maximum photodegradation of Congo red and Brilliant blue dyes (mask layer dyes) has been observed above 50% at given time intervals). This phenomena can be used in remediation applications like the degradation of used masks. Theoretical descriptions of the self-assembled BPPNT monomer and BPPNTs-V3O6 nanocluster composite by DFT calculations produced the validation of the predicted structural applications. The results concluded the proposed nanocomposite-coated mask layers for use in photodegradable masks are a valuable outcome of this study.