Investigation on photocatalytic potential of Au–Ta2O5 semiconductor nanoparticle by degrading Methyl Orange in aqueous solution by illuminating with visible light

Abstract

A semiconductor photocatalytic process has shown great potential as a low cost, environmentally friendly and sustainable treatment technology for the treatment of wastewater. Hence, a wide band gap Ta2O5 semiconductor nanoparticle was prepared by the hydrothermal method and considerable efforts have been taken to narrow the band gap, i.e., the surface modification has been done with a noble metal (Au0) by a deposition precipitation method. As synthesized, Au–Ta2O5 semiconductor was well characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photo electron spectroscopy (XPS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and diffused reflectance UV-vis spectroscopy (DRS). The photocatalytic potential of Au–Ta2O5 semiconductor was investigated by degrading Methyl Orange in the presence and absence of electron acceptors by illuminating with visible light of intensity 80 600 ± 10 Lux.