Sol–gel fabrication of nickel-substituted MnO catalysts for the photodegradation of 2-methoxybenzaldehyde
摘要
Manganese oxide (MnO) and nickel-doped manganese oxide (Ni–MnO) nanoparticles were synthesized via a cost-effective sol–gel method and comprehensively characterized using FTIR, XRD, FESEM, and HRTEM analyses. XRD confirmed the crystalline structure and average crystallite size, while FESEM and HRTEM revealed the morphology and nanoscale dimensions, with particle sizes ranging from 18 to 25 nm. The synthesized nanoparticles were evaluated for their photocatalytic efficiency in the degradation of 2-methoxybenzaldehyde. Under optimized catalyst dosage and constant experimental parameters (pH, pollutant concentration, and reaction time), the Ni–MnO nanoparticles exhibited remarkable photocatalytic performance, achieving over 92% degradation. Furthermore, the catalyst maintained high activity under alkaline conditions, with ~85% degradation observed at pH 12. Comparative analysis indicates that Ni doping significantly enhances the photocatalytic activity of MnO nanoparticles, making Ni–MnO a promising candidate for the efficient degradation of organic pollutants in wastewater treatment applications.
Graphical Abstract