Photocatalytic applications of Nickel pyrophosphate nano-particles in wastewater treatment

Nickel pyrophosphate (Ni₂P₂O₇) is an interesting material with use in energy storage devices and super-capacitors. The surfactant-mediated approach is used to synthesize nickel pyrophosphate nano-particles and further analyze using Powder XRD and TEM for confirmation of nano-structured nature. Methylthioninium chloride or popularly known methylene blue (MB) organic dye is chosen for the photo-catalytic study using nickel pyrophosphate nano-particles. Due to large industrial use, the MB is found in wastewater and hence, the decomposition of MB has become a degradation standard practice. The photo-degradation of MB by nickel pyrophosphate nano-particles is confirmed through several analyses, viz., wastewater analysis, total organic carbon (TOC) analysis, ion chromatography, and UV–Vis. The results indicate that MB degrades in lower-molecular weight leuco dye. This gives an important application of synthesized nickel pyrophosphate nano-particles in an organic pollutant removal. To evaluate the electrochemical properties of nickel pyrophosphate nano-particles, the electrochemical impedance (EIS) spectral analysis is reported. Nickel pyrophosphate nano-particles are found to be potential photo-catalysts for MB dye degradation.