Facile green synthesis of Ni/NiO/MoO3 nanocomposite for Photocatalytic, chromium (VI) Reduction, electrochemical dopamine (DA) and humidity sensor applications

Abstract

Many researchers concentrated their efforts on chemical method for the synthesis of metal oxide nanocomposite (NCs). This article focused on developing a rapid method to prepare Ni/NiO/MoO3 NCs using leaf powder of Butea monosperma as a novel green fuel. Synthesised NCs were characterised using XRD, FT-IR, UV–Visible, Photoluminescence spectroscopy, SEM- EDAX, and TEM analysis. XRD pattern prove the orthodromic structured MoO3 nanoparticles (NPs), rhombohedral structure of Ni/NiO NCs and observed the average crystallite size of 25 nm. The band gap of Ni/NiO/MoO3 NCs was found to be 2.9 eV and TEM analysis revealed irregularly shaped morphologies. Results of photocatalytic dye-degradation of methylene blue dye under various conditions proven the good photocatalytic activity. Additionally, Ni/NiO/MoO3 NCs shows 60 % toxic chromium (VI) reduction. Ni/NiO/MoO3 NCs were successfully employed for the electrochemical detection of dopamine, showcasing good sensing performance. It is also an ideal material for humidity sensor with sensitivity of 4.8 MΩ/%RH and limit of detection of 5 % RH. All the above results indicate the diverse application of the Ni/NiO/MoO3 NCs.