Synthesis of cobalt-orthotitanate inverse spinel nano particles via a novel low temperature solvothermal method: structural, opto-electronical, morphological, surface characterization and photo-catalytical application in mineralization of Remazol Red RB 133

Abstract

Synthesis of single phase cobalt-orthotitanate inverse spinel nano particles is reported for the first time via a novel solvothermal method at low calcination temperature at 400 °C. The pure phase cobalt-orthotitanate spinel nano particles were prepared using cobalt nitrate and titanium tetraisopropoxide (1:1 molar ratio) as cobalt and titanium sources. The synthesised Co2TiO4 nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, surface area analyses (Brauner–Emmett–Teller) (BET) and UV–Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The XRD results proved the formation of a single phase cobalt-orthotitanate (Co2TiO4) nanoparticles by calcination temperature of 400 °C. The FE-SEM results showed that nano particles possess a uniform spherical morphology with an average size of 51 nm. Porosity and specific surface area of cobalt-orthotitanate nano particles was measured by nitrogen adsorption using BET and the results showed surface area of 44.47 m2/g. DRS results showed an optical band gap value of 1.802 eV for cobalt-orthotitanate nano powder. An excellent performance as a nano photo-catalyst toward the degradation of Remazol Red RB 133 (RR133) as a single azo textile dye with excellent efficiency. Mineralization of RR133 by highly active cobalt-orthotitanate nano-catalyst coated on glass surface was applied and 97% TOC removal was observed. This is due to high electron–hole charge separation and high surface area of nano-catalyst.