FACILE GREEN SYNTHESIS, CHARACTERIZATION AND SOLAR ASSISTED PHOTOCATALYTIC EFFECT OF Ni2O3 USING Catharanthus roseus AQUEOUS EXTRACT

The aim of this study was to prepare Ni2O3 nanoparticles by a green methods using the aqueous flower extract of Catharanthus roseus. The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized using UV-Visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV-vis-DRS), X- ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and Energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX). XRD pattern showed confirmed the hexagonal primitive structure of green Ni2O3-NPs with size about 12.34 nm. SEM study reveals that the green Ni2O3-NPs exhibits a sphere shape structure. FT-IR spectra revealed the involvement of polysaccharide in the formation of green Ni2O3-NPs. Photocatalytic degradation of Bismarck brown (BB) dye was carried out using green synthesized green Ni2O3 NPs under solar light irradiation.The optimum condition for degradation is obtained by varying the experimental parameters like concentration, dose, and pH. The photocatalyst of green Ni2O3-NPs exhibit 99 % photocatalytic activity within 120 min. the maximum BB degradation was achieved with green Ni2O3-NPs concentration of 0.1 g/L, initial BB concentration of 10 mg/L at pH 5. Green method for synthesis of green Ni2O3-NPs using flower extracts has been suggested as a possible eco-friendly alternative to chemical and physical methods.