Abstract
Two-dimensional layered materials doped with transition metals exhibit enhanced magnetization and improved catalytic stability during water treatment leading to potential environmental applications across several industrial sectors. In the present study, cobalt (Co)-doped boron nitride nanosheets (BN-NS) were explored for such an application. Chemical exfoliation process was used to exfoliate BN-NS and the hydrothermal route was adopted to incorporate Co dopant in various concentrations (e.g., 2.5, 5, 7.5, and 10 wt%). X-ray diffraction (XRD) study indicated that crystallinity improved upon doping with the formation of a hexagonal phase of the synthesized material. Selected area electron diffraction (SAED) confirmed enhanced crystallinity, which corroborates XRD results. Interlayer spacing was evaluated through a high-resolution transmission electron microscope (HR-TEM) equipped with Gatan digital micrograph software. Compositional and functional group analysis was undertaken with energy dispersive X-ray (EDS) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, respectively. Field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) and HR-TEM were utilized to probe surface morphologies of prepared samples. Bonding modes in the sample were identified through Raman analysis. Optical properties were examined using UV-vis spectroscopy. Photoluminescence spectra were acquired to estimate the separation and recombination of excitons. Magnetic properties were studied by means of hysteresis loop acquired using VSM measurements. Methylene blue dye was degraded with as-prepared host and doped nanosheets used as catalysts and investigated through absorption spectra ranging from 250 to 800 nm. The experimental results of this study indicate that Co-doped BN-NS showed enhanced magnetic properties and can be used to degrade dyes present as an effluent in industrial wastewater.
Highlights
Boron nitride (BN), a promising two-dimensional layered material similar to graphene, tungsten disulfide (WS2), and molybdenum disulfide (MoS2), has attracted considerable attention
Pure and doped boron nitride nanosheets (BN-NS) were characterized by a variety of techniques to evaluate the effect of doping
Raman spectroscopy affirmed E2g active phonon mode of h-boron nitride (BN) while photoluminescence spectroscopy revealed emission spectra that were attributed to exciton migration and recombination
Summary
Boron nitride (BN), a promising two-dimensional layered material similar to graphene, tungsten disulfide (WS2), and molybdenum disulfide (MoS2), has attracted considerable attention. Boron nitride typically exists in its most stable crystallographic form, i.e., hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN). It is found as cubic boron nitride (c-BN) that is structurally analogous to diamond, rhombohedral boron nitride (r-BN), and an amorphous phase [1]. The crystal structure of h-BN resembles that of graphene for which reason it is sometimes referred to as “white graphene” and is designated as graphene’s “twin material.”. Studies have been carried out to alter BN insulation characteristics through bandgap tuning and structural properties [3, 8]. Boron nitride nanosheets (BN-NS) were initially prepared in 2004 by exfoliating bulk material due to its unavailability in nature. Various other exfoliation routes are described in the literature [13–15]
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