Photocatalytic degradation of organic dye using green synthesized Mn2O3 nanoparticles

Abstract

Nowadays, the usage of metal and metal oxide nanoparticles has increased in various fields. This demand leads to a mass manufacture via energy intensive techniques using numerous toxic solvents. Green technology would be an ideal method for producing metal and metal oxide nanoparticles avoiding environmental contamination, promoting low toxicity, safety for human health, environmental compatibility, and low costs. Azadirachta indica (Neem leaf) extract was used in a green approach to the production of manganese dioxide, and manganese (III) oxide nanoparticles (Mn2O3NPs) were produced by a thermal decomposition method. Various instrumental analyses confirmed the cubic crystalline form, coarse sphere-like morphology with a grain size of 30 nm, and band gap energy of 4.0 eV. In these investigations, Mn2O3NPs were used as a heterogeneous catalyst for the degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) under sunlight irradiation. The study confirmed a good photocatalytic activity in terms of the rate constant of 1.4x10-2 min-1 and the reusability results showed that the product can be reused for up to five times without losing its efficiency.

Keywords

• green synthesis
• mn2o3nps
• azadirachta indica (neem leaf)
• photocatalytic degradation
• rhodamine b