Synthesis and characterization of HoVO4/CuO nanocomposites for photodegradation of methyl violet

Abstract

The extension of new materials with a high percentage of dye degradation is one of the significant challenges in photocatalytic degradation of contaminants in water sources. The goal of this work is to illuminate the feasibility of methyl violet dye photodegradation using the HoVO4/CuO heterostructures as new photocatalytic materials under UV/visible-light irradiation. Different parameters influencing the morphology of nanostructures have been examined, including the use of various organic acids and their ratios, as well as the adjustment of diol. The data for the initial characterization of nanopowders were collected through XRD, FT-IR, SEM, TEM, and DRS analyses. The optimal HoVO4 sample in the presence of malonic acid and polyethylene glycol (PEG) with a molar ratio of 2.5:4, with the mean particle size of 21 nm, as well as the optimal HoVO4/CuO nanocomposite sample in the presence of malonic acid and PEG with the mean particle size of 38 nm, were detected by SEM analysis. The photodegradation rate was 71% and 86%, respectively, using HoVO4 and HoVO4/CuO samples. The photocatalytic degradation of methyl violet dye under UV and visible light illustration indicates that, compared to pristine HoVO4 nanostructures, the use of HoVO4/CuO heterostructure leads to increased dye degradation ability. The results of recent research show that the HoVO4/CuO nanocomposite can be synthesized by a simple Pechini process and has a high photocatalytic degradation efficiency.