Y2O3 nanoparticles with 2D morphology as reactive oxygen species scavengers under ultraviolet radiation conditions

This study assessed the potential reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging activity of Y2O3 nanomaterials with 2D-like morphology in an UV radiation environment and in the Fenton system. The materials were synthesized by a simple chemical precipitation method and annealed in three different environments (air, argon, and hydrogen gas) at 500 degrees C for 1 h. The materials featured oxygen deficiency and surface defects, and prevented the photodegradation of the dye crystal violet (CV) in presence of TiO2 (P25) under broad-spectrum UV radiation (UVB and UVA). Y2O3 nanoparticles annealed in air prevented ROS-induced dye degradation by 20.5 +/- 0.7%, while the prevention rate for the other two particles annealed in Ar and H2 were 19.4 +/- 0.7% and 18.1 +/- 0.6%, respectively. Similarly, these nanoparticles prevented dye degradation in the Fenton system by 14.5 +/- 0.7%, 13.7 +/- 0.6%, and 12.0 +/- 0.7% for the Y2O3 annealed in Air, Ar, and H2 respectively. Therefore, the use of low atomic number (Z) yttria ceramic nanoparticles could be a promising material to prevent radiation related ROS damage in high-energy ionizing radiation (keV or MeV) conditions.