Photocatalytic activities of undoped, nickel and zinc doped-Dy2O3 nanoparticles by sol–gel process and its properties

[Display omitted] •Undoped, nickel and zinc-doped Dy2O3 NPs were prepared by sol-gel process.•XRD spectra exhibited a single cubic structure of Dy2O3 NPs.•Zinc-doped Dy2O3 exhibits the highest absorption due to smaller particle size.•Zinc-doped Dy2O3 NPs had higher degradation efficiency as 94.56%.•It can useful for advanced optoelectronic, photo-thermal and spintronic devices. Present work, effect of undoped, nickel and zinc-dopedDy2O3samples were prepared by sol–gel process in order to improve the degradation efficiency under MeB dye. XRD spectra exhibited peaks corresponding to a single cubic Dy2O3.The particle size was found to be 38, 26 and 19 nm for undoped, nickel and zinc-dopedDy2O3samples.Among them, zinc-dopedDy2O3exhibits the enhanced absorption due to smaller particle size.Zinc-dopedDy2O3had the maximum photocatalytic activity, with 94.56 % of degradation efficiency. It opens up new avenues for the design of advanced optoelectronic, photo-thermal and spintronic devices with industrial applications.