Structural,optical and photocatalytic applications of biosynthesized NiO nanocrystals |
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| Authors: | A Diallo K Kaviyarasu S Ndiaye B M Mothudi A Ishaq V Rajendran |
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| Institution: | 1. UNESCO-UNISA Africa Chair in Nanosciences-Nanotechnology, College of Graduate Studies, University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa;2. Nanosciences African Network (NANOAFNET), iThemba LABS-National Research Foundation, Somerset West, South Africa;3. Department of Physics and Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences and Technologies of Formation and Education, University Cheikh Anta Diop, Dakar, Senegal;4. Centre for Nano Science and Nanotechnology, K.S. Rangasamy College of Technology, Tiruchengode, Indiaabdoulayediallosn@gmail.com;6. Department of Physics, Faculty of Science and Technology, University Cheikh Anta Diop, Dakar, Senegal;7. National Center for Physics, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan;8. Centre for Nano Science and Nanotechnology, K.S. Rangasamy College of Technology, Tiruchengode, India |
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| Abstract: | NiO is one of the most important candidates for semiconductors metal oxide nanocrystals by the arrangement of photocatalytic application. However, the photocatalytic performance of biosynthesized nanocrystals using Aspalathus linearis (Burm.f.) R. Dahlgren has not been investigated yet. In this contribution, we synthesize α-Ni(OH)2 using an A. linearis. A heat treatment of the α-Ni(OH)2 is carried out at 300–400°C for 2?h at normal air yields. Furthermore, we have characterized the structural, optical and photocatalytic activity of the samples. The optical results indicate that biosynthesized nanocrystals exhibit UV–visible light absorption and a narrow range distribution of intense green light (518.95?nm) emission, which decreases significantly as annealing temperature increases. The bandgap energies of the sample annealed at 300–400°C shift to lower photon energy, compared to bulk NiO (～ 4?eV). Moreover, the photocatalytic experimental results reveal that NiO nanocrystals enable color switching of methylene blue. |
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| Keywords: | NiO nanocrystals Aspalathus linearis photocatalytic application methylene blue |
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