Insights into the UV light-aided photocatalytic activity of eco-friendly synthesized NdVO4 nanoparticles using natural honey

This work developed a straightforward protocol for the graceful biogenic production of Neodymium vanadate nanoparticles (NdVO4 NPs) using phytochemical-rich natural honey. The bioactive compound-rich honey contains glucose and fructose as key reducing agents. This green source enables the reduction of metal salts and serves as a capping agent, ensuring the formation of stable and homogeneous NPs under mild reaction conditions. The optical and textural characteristics of the honey-capped NdVO4 NPs were thoroughly investigated using XRD, FTIR, TEM, SAED pattern, UV–Vis, EDX mapping, BET, and XPS analyses. XRD confirmed the bio-inspired NdVO4 NP purity and single-phase formation with elevated crystallinity, presenting an average crystalline size of 41.8 nm. Moreover, the TEM microstructural analysis disclosed that the bio-inspired NPs have a pseudo-spherical morphology with a mean particle size of 72.73 nm. Honey-capped biosynthesized NdVO4 NPs were proven to be cost-effective and long-lasting photocatalysts for wastewater treatment. Experiments with Congo red (CR) degradation under visible light yielded outstanding results, with a maximum decomposition efficiency of 84.55 % achieved within 25 min after exposure to visible light under optimal conditions: 0.4 mL H2O2, 20 mg of catalyst, and 15 ppm of dye. It also noted that the higher dye concentrations improve opacity and reduce photodegradation. The radicals implicated in the decomposition of CR dye in the presence of an NdVO4 nanocatalyst were also identified using the scavenging test. Furthermore, as-produced NdVO4 NPs can be implemented in various environmental technological applications, such as wastewater treatment.

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