Enhancement in the photocatalytic and antimicrobial properties of ZnO nanoparticles by structural variations and energy bandgap tuning through Fe and Co co-doping

In this study, pure ZnO and iron (Fe) and cobalt (Co) co-doped ZnO nanoparticles were synthesized by varying Fe and Co concentrations using the co-precipitation method. The physical properties of as-prepared samples were investigated through XRD, FTIR, SEM, and UV–vis spectroscopy. X-ray diffraction confirmed the strong influence of Fe and Co ions on structural parameters without disturbing the basic ZnO hexagonal structure. The microstructural study was executed by using the Scherrer, W–H, and SSP methods. FTIR confirmed the presence of Zn–O, and Zn–M–O (M = Fe, Co) vibrational modes, which further confirmed the successful incorporation of dopants ions. The energy bandgap (E_g) extracted from UV–vis spectra has shown red-shift (3.37–2.7 eV) for decreasing Fe contents, whereas blue-shift (3.37–3.39 eV) for increasing Co concentration. SEM was used to investigate surface morphology, which represents the high rate of agglomeration. The photocatalytic test was performed on grown samples against various dyes and also observed the effects of varying concentrations of Fe and Co ions. The maximum degradation efficiency (98.8%) at 6%Fe and 4%Co under direct sunlight in 60 min against methylene blue (MB) was achieved. The photocatalytic activity of optimized concentration (6%Fe and 4%Co) was further tested against cresol red (CR), methyl orange (MO), safranin-O (SO), rhodamine-B (RhB), and methyl red (MR) dyes. The maximum degradation efficiency against MR dye (96.0%) was observed. The antibacterial test against Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae bacterial strains have shown that co-doped ZnO nanoparticles have a higher activity as compared to pristine ZnO, and furthermore, the sample with 6%Fe and 4%Co concentration exposed the highest antibacterial actively for both bacterial strains.     

Sodium dodecyl sulfate mediated microwave synthesis of biocompatible superparamagnetic mesoporous hydroxyapatite nanoparticles using black Chlamys varia seashell as a calcium source for biomedical applications

Designing biocompatible superparamagnetic mesoporous nanoparticles for advanced healthcare applications has received much attention. In this research, we have synthesized intrinsic mesoporous superparamagnetic hydroxyapatite (HAp) nanoparticles using bio-waste of black Chlamys varia seashell as a calcium source by sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)–enabled microwave-assisted synthesis approach. The synthesized Fe-doped HAp nanoparticles were characterized using various characterization techniques to know the phase purity and morphological features. The incorporation of Fe greatly affected the morphology of HAp nanoparticles without affecting their crystalline phase. Superparamagnetic behavior was observed with the incorporation of Fe in the HAp nanoparticles. Further, saturation magnetization was enhanced with higher incorporation of Fe ions. The cytotoxicity studies of the synthesized pure and Fe-doped HAp samples conducted using a human osteoblasts cell line (MG63), which indicated that Fe-doped HAp nanoparticles are biocompatible. Further, antibacterial activity analysis also confirmed their excellent antibacterial performance against different pathogens. Hence, SDS-enabled microwave-assisted synthesis approach using seashell as a calcium source would be a better approach for the production of intrinsic mesoporous superparamagnetic HAp nanoparticles for various biomedical applications, such as drug targeting, hyperthermia cancer therapy, and magnetic resonance imaging.     

Structural and Opto-electronic Study of a Novel Nanostructure Nb–S Co-doped Titania

A series of Nb–S co-doped titania (NST) nanoparticles was successfully produced in a single step by sol–gel method using titanium (IV) chloride, niobium (V) chloride and thiourea as precursors followed by annealing. The co-doping of sulfur and niobium caused a dramatic red-shift in absorption, improvement in surface properties and enhancement in thermal stability of the anatase phase. The reflectance spectra showed that the band gap of TiO₂ shifted when the Nb content was low (1 % Nb). Annealing at higher temperature showed an increase in particle size, decrease in absorbance and decrease in band gap energy. This observation was understood in terms of band bending with potential application in solar cells. The NST was further characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope (SEM) and thermal analysis. The results indicated that Nb and S are homogeneously incorporated into the anatase lattice by substitution of Ti and O, respectively. The XRD showed that Nb–S co-doped titania nanoparticles included the anatase phase at 350 °C calcination temperature. The SEM analysis revealed that the doping of Nb and S did not cause a change in morphology of the catalyst surface. The average crystallite size of the NST with semi-spherical shape was 21 nm.     

Modification of mesoporous structure of silver-doped bioactive glass with antibacterial properties for bone tissue applications

Silver-containing mesoporous bioglasses powders with SiO₂–CaO–P₂O₅–Ag₂O composition have been successfully synthesized by sol-gel and evaporation-induced self-assembly (EISA) methods in presence of various amounts of surfactant (Pluronic-F127). The morphology and crystal structure of the powders were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction spectroscopy (XRD). Also, the textural properties of samples have been evaluated by adsorption-desorption, Langmuir and BET methods. Accordingly, powders had a smooth surface morphology with cubic mesoporous structure and a desired surface area and pore volume. The in vitro bioactivity was assessed by SEM, XRD and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analyses. All samples enhance the formation of HA after soaking the material in simulated body fluid (SBF) solution. The antibacterial property of samples was evaluated to investigate the effect of silver content in chemical composition. The results showed an adequate antibacterial activity of the samples against Escherichia coli, Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes.     

Simultaneous co-substitution of Sr2+/Fe3+ in hydroxyapatite nanoparticles for potential biomedical applications

In human, strontium (Sr) follows the same physiological pathway as calcium and thus could be used for improving the bioactivity and osteoconductivity of hydroxyapatite (HAp) in bone tissues. Similarly, iron (Fe) can potentially play an important role in bone remodeling due to its magnetic properties. Therefore, the current study was aimed to simultaneously co-substitute Sr²⁺/Fe³⁺ in HAp nanoparticles for various potential biomedical applications. The Sr²⁺/Fe³⁺ co-substituted HAp nanoparticles were systematically synthesized through sonication-assisted aqueous precipitation method. The as-synthesized nanoparticles were evaluated for different physicochemical and biological properties. X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns of Sr²⁺/Fe³⁺ co-substituted HAp nanoparticles confirmed their phase purity and showed hexagonal-like structure. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) micrographs showed an agglomerated rod-like morphology of HAp nanoparticles which contained pores consisted of small spheroids. The nanoparticles displayed magnetization (Ms) reliance on the loading level of mole % (X?=?Fe³⁺) and exhibited tunable porosity and microhardness (Hv) upon heat treatment. The nanoparticles showed less than 5% hemolysis demonstrating high blood compatibility with high in vitro bioactivity performance. The multifunctional properties of synthesized nanoparticles make them a potential candidate for various biomedical applications; including bone grafting and guided bone regeneration, targeted drug delivery, magnetic resonance imaging, and hyperthermia based cancer treatment.     

Facile nanorods synthesis of KI:HAp and their structure-morphology,vibrational and bioactivity analyses for biomedical applications

Pure and potassium iodide (KI) doped hydroxyapatite (HAp) nanostructures were prepared through a facile microwave route. Field emission - SEM (FESEM) confirm low dimension nanorods (NRs) morphology of final products. The average dimension of NRs is may be in the range of 10–20?nm. Predominant single segment was approved by XRD and EDX analyses. Lattice constants, crystallite size, density of dislocations, strain and % of crystallinity were determined and the average crystallite size is observed in 9–16?nm range and degree of crystallinity is observed to be high viz. ~ 59% for 30% KI doped HAp. Vibrational studies were done through FT-IR and FT-Raman spectroscopy and confirm the phase of HAp. The catalytic activity of all samples is done in bioremediation of methylene blue using Stenotrophomonas maltophilia strain Kilany_MB. These results suggested that HAp and KI-HAp as a promising nano-catalyst in bioremediation of water from methylene blue.     

Composition,structure and mechanical properties of the titanium surface after induction heat treatment followed by modification with hydroxyapatite nanoparticles

Coatings of titania (TiO₂) and "titania–hydroxyapatite" were prepared by oxidation of commercially pure titanium VT1-00 using induction heat treatment (IHT), followed by modification with colloidal hydroxyapatite (HAp) nanoparticles. The IHT treatment was performed at temperatures within 600–1200 °C for 300 s. According to the results of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray fluorescent analysis (EDX), nanoindentation and in vitro testing, titania coatings of high morphological heterogeneity, and high mechanical properties and biocompatibility were formed on the titanium surface after IHT. The coatings were found to consist of nano- and submicron crystals of oval, needle-like, plate and prismatic shapes. A subsequent modification with HAp nanoparticles of the coated titanium substrate leads to accelerated formation of mechanically strong oxidebioceramic composite coatings. It was established that the porous oxide coatings modified with nanoparticles of HAp that were formed at temperatures from 800 to 1000 °C and holding for at least 30 s had a high biocompatibility.     

Biomimetic fabrication of mulberry-like nano-hydroxyapatite with high specific surface area templated by dual-hydrophilic block copolymer

Novel porous and mulberry-like hydroxyapatite (HAp) nanoparticles with three-dimensionally hierarchical microstructures were developed by using the dual-hydrophilic block copolymer poly(methacrylate acid)-b-poly[N-(2-methacryloylxyethyl) pyrrolidone] (PMAA-b-PNMP) as the template. It was found that the morphology and Ca/P ratio of synthesized HAp was highly related to the concentration of block copolymer and solution pH, respectively. The morphological evolution of HAp nanoparticles in different conditions was investigated systematically by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM), powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The possible mechanism of PMAA-b-PNMP assisted mulberry-like HAp formation was also proposed based on the time-dependent TEM results. Attributing to the high specific surface area (SSA) of 119 m² g⁻¹, these mulberry-like HAp nanoparticles exhibited excellent adsorption ability for Congo Red (CR). The maximum adsorption capacity was 467 mg g⁻¹ according to the Langmuir monolayer adsorption model.     

Tailoring the properties of cerium doped zinc oxide/reduced graphene oxide composite: Characterization,photoluminescence study,antibacterial activity

Ce doped ZnO/rGO composite materials were prepared by a one-pot hydrothermal process without any surfactant. The size, crystallography and morphology of the composite were investigated in detail by X- ray diffraction (XRD) studies, Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopic (SEM), transmission electron microscopic (TEM) studies, UV–Vis spectroscopic analysis and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic (XPS) analysis. The XRD pattern substantiates the formation of Ce doped ZnO/rGO composite revealing the wurtzite structure of ZnO. The SEM micrograph illustrates flower-like morphology for ZnO/rGO composite which coalesced further after cerium incorporation. Additionally, TEM image illustrated that ZnO hexagons were disoriented from its flower structure in Ce/ZnO/rGO composite. The XPS spectra further reaffirm the formation of cerium doped ZnO/rGO composite. The photoluminescence (PL) spectra confirms that emission occurs in the UV and visible region and several active sub-levels were observed in visible region on deconvolution, due to the incorporation of cerium. Antibacterial activity towards B. subtills and V. harveyi affirmed that the incorporation of Ce in ZnO/rGO composite leads to an improved antibacterial activity.     

Characterization,antibacterial and in vitro compatibility of zinc–silver doped hydroxyapatite nanoparticles prepared through microwave synthesis

We investigated the possibility of enhancing hydroxyapatite (HA) bioactivity by co-substituting it with zinc and silver. Zn–Ag–HA nanoparticles were synthesized by using the microwave-assisted wet precipitation process, and their phase purity, elemental composition, morphology, and particle size were analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). FTIR, XRD, and EDX results showed the characteristic peaks of the Zn–Ag–HA structure, while SEM results demonstrated that the nanoparticles were of spherical shape with a particle size of 70–102 nm. Antibacterial tests of the nanoparticles revealed their antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. By using simulated body fluid (SBF), an apatite layer formation was observed at 28 days. In vitro cell adhesion assay confirmed the cell attachment of normal human osteoblast (NHOst) cells to the disc surface. MTT [(3(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5 diphenyltetrazolium bromide] assay indicated that the cells were viable, and the cells proliferated faster on the disks than on the control surface due to the presence of metal ions. In conclusion, the novel Zn–Ag–HA nanoparticles were found to be compatible with in vitro experiments and having potential antibacterial properties. Therefore these nanoparticles could be a promising candidate for future biomedical applications.     

Li:Ce co-doped CdO films synthesized by SILAR method: Effects of rare earth element Ce content on the physical attributes

Undoped, Li-doped (Li_0.02Cd_0.98O) and Li:Ce co-doped (Ce_x Li_0.02Cd_0.98-xO (x?=?0.005, 0.01 and 0.02)) CdO nanofilms were prepared by a successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) process. The effects of the Li and Li:Ce doping on the main physical properties such as crystal structure, surface morphological characteristics and optical features like bandgap and transmittance of obtained these films were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and UV–Vis spectrophotometer respectively. X-ray diffractogram analysis verified that the synthesized CdO films pertain to the cubic structure. XRD analysis indicated the growth of CdO with polycrystalline form for preferential orientation along the (111) and (200) plane. It is obviously seen from the SEM micrographs that Li doping and Li:Ce co-doping induce remarkable changes in the CdO surface morphology. The UV–Vis spectroscopy analysis results show that the (2.0% Li+1.0% Ce) Li:Ce co-doped CdO films exhibits maximum transmittance (27%) in the range between 300 and 1100?nm and high optical bandgap energy (E_g =2.92?eV).     

Study of Crystallization and Spectral Properties of Zinc Sulfide Nanoparticles in Mesoporous Matrix

The aim of this work is to report the optical and structural properties of ZnS nanoparticles in mesoporous matrix. The samples were obtained by sulfidation of the Zn²⁺ ion-exchange mesopore in a Na₂S solution at room temperature. The final product (ZnS/MCM-41) was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), infrared spectrometry and UV–Vis spectroscopy. Its crystalline structure and morphology was studied by XRD and SEM. Exciton absorption peaks at higher energy than the fundamental absorption edge of bulk ZnS indicates quantum confinement effects in nanoparticles as a consequence of their small size.     

Morphological,mechanical, and biological evolution of pure hydroxyapatite and its composites with titanium carbide for biomedical applications

Pure hydroxyapatite (HAp) was synthesized successfully via a wet chemical precipitation method. To study the influence of TiC (weight % of 5, 10, 15) substitution on the mechanical behavior of pure HAp, its composites with TiC were synthesized using a solid-state reaction method. Herein, detailed investigations of pure HAp and its composites using X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), FTIR spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, UV-VIS spectroscopy, SEM followed by EDAX and particle size analysis were carried out. XRD study reveals the phase stability of the prepared HAp and composite samples. However, FTIR and Raman spectroscopic studies revealed the bond formation among the various constituents. Mechanical behavior of HAp, and its composites with TiC were studied using numerous parameters like density, Young's modulus, fracture toughness, and load absorption capability. Based on these studies, it was revealed that the addition of 5 wt % substitution of TiC sintered at 1200 °C significantly enhanced the mechanical properties of pure HAp. Hence, 5 wt % of TiC composite 95HAp-5TiC showed the best mechanical characteristics such as density (2.3060 g/cm³), Young's modulus (14.53 MPa), fracture toughness (19.82 MPa m^1/2), maximum compressive strength (186 MPa) respectively. Cytotoxicity and osteogenic activities of the synthesized pure HAp and its composite, 95HAp-5TiC were performed using osteoblast cells (mouse calvarial) at different concentrations of the samples (0.01 μg, - 100 μg). From the above studies, the cell viability and ALP activities of the composite, 95HAp-5TiC found to be excellent than that of pure HAp. Hence, this composite sample may be utilized for bone implant applications.     

An approach to enhance the photocatalytic activity of ZnTiO3

ZnTiO₃ nanoparticles and Ag-Fe co-doped ZnTiO₃ nanoparticles were prepared using sol–gel method. The prepared samples were annealed at 700 °C and showed pure hexagonal ZnTiO₃. All the samples were characterized by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), field-emission scanning electron microscope, energy-dispersive X-ray analysis, and UV analyses. The result showed that the hexagonal structure of Ag-Fe ZnTiO₃ is affected with the increase in Ag-Fe concentrations. The zinc titanate nanoparticles were used for determining the degradation of cationic dye. Photocatalytic activity of ZnTiO₃ nanoparticles was studied and compared with that of bare control. The results showed enhanced photocatalytic activity of the Ag-Fe co-doped ZnTiO₃ compared to pure ZnTiO₃, showing that the Ag-Fe co-doping deposition has a major function in enhancing the degradation capability of cationic dye.     

Effect of ZrO2 nanoparticles addition to PEO coatings on Ti–6Al–4V substrate: Microstructural analysis,corrosion behavior and antibacterial effect of coatings in Hank's physiological solution

In this study, plasma electrolyte oxidation (PEO) method was employed to modify the surface of Ti–6Al–4V. Effects of different concentrations of ZrO₂ nanoparticles (0, 1, 3 and 5 g/l) into a phosphate-based electrolyte on the morphology, wettability, antibacterial and corrosion behaviors of coatings were investigated. Microstructural analyses of coatings were evaluated using scanning electron microscopy with an energy dispersive spectrometer. Also, X-ray diffraction, contact angle instrument and profilometry were respectively used to perform phase analysis, wettability, and surface roughness of the coatings. The antibacterial test was conducted with spot inoculation method on four pathogenic bacteria. Polarization and impedance spectroscopy measurements were performed in Hank's solution to investigate the corrosion behavior of coatings. The results revealed that PEO coatings without nanoparticles and by increasing the concentration of the ZrO₂ nanoparticles up to 3 g/l in the electrolyte led to a significant improvement in the antibacterial activities of gram-negative bacteria (P. aeruginosa and E. Coli). In the case of gram-positive bacteria, the PEO coated samples demonstrated improved antibacterial effects but addition of ZrO₂ nanoparticles in the PEO coatings resulted in deterioration of antibacterial effect. The sample coated with 3 g/l ZrO₂ nanoparticles showed the peak corrosion resistance compared to its counterparts.     

Photocatalytic performance of Al and Nb-doped TiO2 nanoparticles prepared by microwave-assisted hydrothermal method

Microwave-assisted hydrothermal synthesis of aluminum (Al)-doped TiO₂ (ALT) and niobium (Nb)-doped TiO₂ (NBT) nanoparticles were carried out. Investigations were performed to examine the crystallinity, vibrational modes, surface morphology, and composition using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), respectively. The XRD study indicated the higher crystallinity of the ALT particles compared to the Al and Nb-doped TiO₂ (ALNBT) particles, and only the presence of the anatase phase was observed in all samples. As a result of doping, the Raman mode at ∼147 cm⁻¹ is found to be shifted toward a higher wavenumber for both samples. SEM analysis showed the spherical morphology of ALT and NBT nanoparticles. The elemental composition peaks of Al, titanium, Nb, and oxygen were noticed by EDS measurements. Furthermore, both prepared nanoparticles were used as photocatalytic materials. The Nb and Al-doped samples showed an improvement in the photocatalysis response in relation to the pure TiO₂ sample, in which Al-doped sample was able to decolorize 100% of rhodamine B in 75 min of analysis.     

Antibacterial activity of V- doped rod-like MgO crystals decorated with nanoflake layer

In present study, we report a V doping fabrication method for obtaining rod-like MgO crystals decorated with a nanoflake layer. This novel structure has only been minimally reported in literature. Pure MgO and Mg₂V₂O₇–MgO composite materials were obtained by precipitation and impregnation methods, with vanadium added concentrations of 0–9%. The influence of V doping on crystal structure and particle morphology of MgO was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis demonstrated that MgO has a cubic structure, while X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) revealed that V⁵⁺ exists on the surface of MgO. The specific surface areas and pore sizes of MgO composites were calculated by BET and BJH analysis. These techniques revealed that specific surface area and pore size of MgO increased due to vanadium doping. The antibacterial effects of Mg₂V₂O₇–MgO composite materials against Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) were assessed using a bacterial killing/colony-forming unit (CFU) assay and bacteriostatic ring method. Our results demonstrate that V doping dramatically improved antimicrobial properties of MgO, with 7 mol% doping inducing the best antibacterial activity. The antibacterial mechanisms of Mg₂V₂O₇–MgO composite material were also proposed.     

Antibacterial and photocatalytic behaviour of green synthesis of Zn0.95Ag0.05O nanoparticles using herbal medicine extract

The present work aimed to synthesize Zn_0.95Ag_0.05O (ZnAgO) nanoparticles using rosemary leaf extracts as a green chemistry method. The characterization of Ag-doped ZnO nanoparticles was performed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and ultraviolet–visible spectrophotometry (UV–visible). The XRD, FTIR, and UV–visible spectra confirmed the formation of the presence of hexagonal ZnAgO nanoparticles. FESEM micrograph shows that the nanoparticles have been distributed homogeneously and uniformly. The morphology of ZnAgO nanoparticles is quasi-spherical configuration. Also, the mean particle size is in the range of 22–40 nm. The photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue in the presence of Ag-doped ZnO nanoparticles is nearly 98.5% after exposing 100 min. The ultraviolet lamp was used as the light source for photocatalyst degradation. The disc diffusion method was chosen to study the antibacterial activity of as-synthesized ZnAgO nanoparticles. Antibacterial activity of Zn_0.95Ag_0.05O nanoparticles against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli revealed that the as-synthesized ZnAgO nanoparticles were efficient in inhibition of bacterial growth.     

Ag–Sr doped mesoporous bioactive glass nanoparticles loaded chitosan/gelatin coating for orthopedic implants

In this study, we investigated surface and biological properties of Ag–Sr-doped mesoporous bioactive glass nanoparticle (Ag–Sr MBGN) loaded chitosan/gelatin coatings deposited by electrophoretic deposition (EPD) on 316L stainless steel. The EPD parameters, that is, deposition time, applied voltage, and distance between the electrodes was optimized by the Taguchi design of experiment (DoE) approach. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images illustrated the spherical morphology of the synthesized Ag–Sr MBGNs with the mean particle size of 160 ± 20 nm. Energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy results confirmed the presence of Ag and Sr in the synthesized MBGNs. Optimum EPD parameters determined by DoE approach were 5 g/L of Ag–Sr MBGNs, deposition time of 5 min, and applied voltage of 30 V. SEM images confirmed that the coatings were fairly homogenous. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and EDX results confirmed the presence of chitosan, gelatin, and Ag–Sr MBGNs in the coatings. Chitosan/gelatin/Ag–Sr MBGN composite coatings exhibited suitable wettability for the protein attachment and proliferation of osteoblast cells. The composite coatings exhibited suitable adhesion strength with the substrate. The coatings developed HA crystals upon immersion in simulated body fluid. The results of the turbidity test confirmed that the coatings are antibacterial to the Escherichia coli cells.     

Synthesis and photocatalytic activity of Na+ co-doped CaTiO3:Eu3+ photocatalysts for methylene blue degradation

The Na⁺ co-doped CaTiO₃:Eu³⁺ powders were produced through the solution combustion method. The phase structure and optical properties of the synthesized samples were adequately characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), photoluminescence (PL) spectra, ultraviolet–visible (UV–vis) diffuse reflection spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The XRD patterns revealed that a low level of Eu³⁺ doping could not cause lattice distortion of CaTiO₃. Photoluminescence (PL) displayed the CaTiO₃:0.5% Eu³⁺ sample synthesized at 900 °C has the weakest PL emission and the low electrons and holes recombination rate. The morphology of the sample was small nanoscale spherical particles. The UV–vis diffuse reflection spectra proved that doping Na⁺ and Eu³⁺ enlarged the absorption region and reduced band energy of pure CaTiO₃. The photocatalytic properties of Na⁺ co-doped CaTiO₃:Eu³⁺ samples were investigated via degrading methylene blue (MB) under ultraviolet light irradiation. The CaTiO₃:0.5% Eu³⁺, 0.5% Na⁺ sample, by contrast, exhibited the greatest photocatalytic property and the degradation rate was as high as 96.62%, which makes it a promising multi-functional material (photocatalytic material and red phosphor) for decreasing organic pollution in water.