Synthesis, characterization and sunlight catalytic performance of Cu doped NiO nanoparticles

Abstract

In the present study, nickel oxide and copper doped nickel oxide nanoparticles have been synthesized by chemical co-precipitation method and the same have been characterized by using X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), UV-Vis spectroscopy and then used as a photocatalyst for the degradation of dye solution. The X-ray diffraction pattern reveals face centred cubic structure of prepared samples with dimensions in nano-scale. The photo-reduction activities of prepared samples were evaluated using a cationic dye, methylene blue (MB) as organic contaminant irradiated only under sunlight for a time period of 60 minutes. It was found that Cu doped NiO degrade MB much faster than pure NiO upon its exposure to sunlight. The experiment demonstrated that upon doping of copper, the photo-degradation efficiency of doped NiO was significantly enhanced. The prepared material proves to be a potential photocatalyst for degradation of dye polluted water.