Copper nanocluster-mediated degradation of toxic organic dyes: a sustainable approach to water remediation

) radicals, thereby elucidating the underlying degradation mechanism. Comparative studies with other metal nanoclusters highlight that the superior activity of Cys-Cu NCs arises from the intrinsic redox property of copper, which plays a pivotal role in ROS generation and dye degradation. Kinetic analyses revealed that RhB and MB follow distinct degradation pathways. Furthermore, degradation studies performed at varying dye concentrations, larger reaction volumes, and in real water samples demonstrated the robustness and practical applicability of the developed method. Overall, the Cys-Cu NC-mediated degradation offers a sustainable and efficient approach for the remediation of dye-contaminated water.