Size controllable synthesis of cobalt vanadate nanostructures with enhanced photocatalytic activity for the degradation of organic dyes

چکیده مقاله

Different types of cobalt vanadate nanostructures such as Co3V2O8, Co2V2O7 and CoV2O6 have been successfully prepared via a simple solid-state method. For the first time, cobalt vanadate nanostructures were synthesized via Schiff-base ligand and vanadyl sulfate as a capping agent and vanadium source, respectively. The effect of a Schiff-base ligand (N,N-Bis (salicylaldehyde) ethylenediamine = H2salen) as a capping agent, molar ratio of Co: H2salen and Co:V on type of products, morphology and size of cobalt vanadate nanoparticles was investigated to reach optimum condition. The as-prepared nanostructures were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmittance electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectra, energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis (EDX) and ultraviolet–visible (UV–vis) spectroscopy. This work is the first study on photocatalytic activity of cobalt vanadate nanostructures in different conditions. The influence of different parameters such as type of cobalt vanadate nanostructures, type of dye, size of particles and nanostructures dosage as a catalyst on photocatalytic activity of samples were studied.