Green auto-combustion synthesis of SrNiO3/NiO/SrCO3 ferromagnetic-nanocomposites in the presence carbohydrate sugars and their application as photocatalyst for degradation of water-soluble organic-pollutants

Abstract

This study utilized an environmentally-friendly method to synthesize SrNiO3/NiO/SrCO3 nanocomposites using glucose and lactose as fuels. A variety of fuel concentrations were investigated in order to determine their effects on SrNiO3/NiO/SrCO3 nanocomposites from both a pure and a morphological perspective. Various physiochemical techniques were employed to examine the crystal structure, morphology, optical, magnetic, and surface properties of the synthesized nanoparticles. These techniques included X-ray diffract, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), vibrating sample magnetometers, and Brunauer-Emmett-Tellers. The band gap of the as-synthesized nanoparticles was determined to be 2.5eV, suggesting that they are capable of acting as a photocatalyst under sunlight-like conditions. The photocatalytic activity of SrNiO3/NiO/SrCO3 nanocomposites was evaluated against Methyl orange (MO) and Methyl violet (MV), and the mechanism of the photocatalyst was investigated using EDTA, benzoic acid, and benzoquinone as scavengers. A comparison of photocatalytic activity in UV and sun-like light showed that maximum degradation (92%) and (84.8%) were related to degradation of MO (20 ppm) and MV in 60min, respectively. The results indicate that SrNiO3/NiO/SrCO3 nanocomposites synthesized using the auto combustion method may serve as a promising photocatalyst for the degradation of organic pollutants in the environment within a short period of time.