Enhanced photocatalytic activity of V2O5 nanorods for the photodegradation of organic dyes: A detailed understanding of the mechanism and their antibacterial activity

Photocatalytic activity of the hydrothermally prepared V2O5 nanorods had been tested for Rhodamine 6G (Rh-6G), methyl orange (MO) and methylene blue (MB) under visible light irradiation. The photodegradation was maximum for Rh-6G (85%) followed by 48% and 24% for MO and MB respectively and it was faster in Rh-6G. The degradation rate constant and half-life time were 0.603 h(-1) and 1.229 h respectively for Rh-6G and responsible for enhanced photocatalytic performance. The degradation of Rh-6G had occurred via N-de-ethylation process. The Rh-6G had best performed in the neutral pH conditions, better in acidic and poor in basic conditions. Increasing photodegradation in Rh-6G was understood by scavenging the increasingly formed (OH)-O-center dot radicals by the PL emission of formed photoluminescent species 2-TAOH. The effect of active O-center dot(2)- is demonstrated to be major player on the degradation of Rh-6G. The V2O5 nanorods showed reproducible, repeatable, and efficient degradation of Rh-6G in aqueous solution. Additionally, it showed good anti-bacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus bacteria.