Hydrothermal synthesis and photocatalytic activity of Mn3O4 nanoparticles

• Main Authors: Lett, J. Anita, Alshahateet, Solhe F., Fatimah, Is, Sivasankaran, Ramesh Poonchi, Sibhatu, Assefu Kassegn, Le, Minh-Vien, Sagadevan, Suresh
• Format: Article
• Published: Springer/Plenum Publishers 2023
• Subjects: QD Chemistry
• Online Access: http://eprints.um.edu.my/39384/
• Institution: Universiti Malaya

In this work, Mn3O4 nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized by hydrothermal method using the precursor manganese acetate and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as a as a structure directing agent. The synthesized Mn3O4 NPs were systematically characterized in terms of their morphology, surfaces, as well as their crystalline and photocatalytic activity. Powder X-ray diffraction results confirm the crystalline structure of Mn3O4 with a tetragonal phase. Field emission scanning electron microscopy results revealed a mixed rod-like morphology and rougsurface spherical particle. The energy dispersive X-ray spectra confirm the homogeneity and purity of the Mn3O4 nanostructure. Further, the hydrodynamic diameter of the synthesized Mn3O4 NPs in water was determined using the dynamic light scattering method. The synthesized Mn3O4 sample showed photocatalytic activity towards methylene blue (MB), and the photodecomposition reaction was described as better with pseudo first order than the second order reaction model. This present work suggests that the prepared Mn3O4 nanostructures are promising photocatalysts for the degradation of MB in an aqueous media under natural solar irradiation for long periods of time without adjusting the pH or introducing an oxidant into the reaction mixture.