Studies on Photocatalytic Performance of MgO Nanoparticles Prepared by Wet Chemical Method

In the present article, we explore a cost-effective and an environmentally benign route to prepare magnesium oxide (MgO) nanoparticles through thermal decomposition of magnesium hydroxide (Mg(OH)(2)) nanoparticles. Mg(OH)(2) nanoparticles were prepared using different solvents namely ethylenediamine (EDA) and triethanolamine (TEA) by wet chemical method, and subsequently the as-synthesized Mg(OH)(2) nanoparticles were calcinated at 400A degrees C for 2 h in air to obtain MgO nanoparticles. XRD pattern revealed that as-synthesized Mg(OH)(2) nanoparticles are polycrystalline in nature with hexagonal structure, and after annealing it transforms to MgO nanoparticles with cubic structure. FTIR spectrum of as-synthesized Mg(OH)(2) nanoparticles indicated the OH- antisymmetric stretching vibration of the Mg(OH)(2) and after annealing the sharp peak at 3686 cm(-1) disappears, which confirms the complete transformation of hexagonal Mg(OH)(2) to cubic MgO. SEM analysis showed the formation of interfused Mg(OH)(2) nanoflakes and coral-like hierarchical MgO nanostructure made up of stacked nanoflakes. Optical band gap energy of Mg(OH)(2) and MgO nanoparticles prepared using different solvent were estimated using UV-Vis DRS. Degradation of methyl orange was performed to investigate the photocatalytic activity of coral-like hierarchical MgO nanostructure. Results demonstrate that coral-like hierarchical MgO nanostructure possessing large surface area and porous morphology exhibited good photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange.