MoO₂ nanostructures synthesized via hydrothermal method for enhanced Methylene blue decontamination

Photocatalysis is one of the potential techniques to degrade organic pollutants in the environment. Currently, one of the most interesting research areas in the development of high-performance photocatalysts. Hence, in this work, we used jackfruit extract to synthesize MoO₂ nanoparticles (NPs) through a straightforward and affordable hydrothermal technique for the first time. MoO₂ has gained attention for use as a host material in electrochemical supercapacitors, lithium-ion batteries and capable of degrading organic molecules. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and UV–Vis spectroscopy were used to characterize the prepared MoO₂ nanoparticles. We observed a band gap of approximately 2.35 eV, indicating that they are active photocatalysts. The photocatalytic properties of the MoO₂ nanoparticles were evaluated using Methylene blue (MB) dye under visible light. The MB dye degraded up to 92% in 180 min in the presence of MoO₂ nanoparticles. The rate kinetics of MB on the prepared nanoparticles shows pseudo second-order kinetics. Recyclability tests demonstrated the excellent photostability of the MoO₂ nanoparticles. Furthermore, they function as an excellent material for supercapacitor preparation and serve as biosensors.