Synthesis and Characterizations of Chromium Oxide Nanoparticles for the Photocatalytic Degradation

Aims: To synthesize chromium oxide nanoparticles by simple precipitation method, their characteristics and investigate the photocatalytic activity of these nanoparticle for the photodegradation of Brilliant Green (BG) dye.

Study Design: Synthesis of Cr2O3 nanoparticles by precipitation method and photocatalysis of Brilliant green by using Cr2O3 nanoparticles.

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Physics, School of Applied Sciences, REVA University, Bangalore, between January 2024 to May 2024.

Methodology: The Cr2O3 nanoparticles were synthesized by simple precipitation technique using chromium nitrate as precursor. The synthesized Cr2O3 nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) techniques.

Results: XRD patterns were well matched with the JCPDS card number 00-038-1479 with rhombohedral structure with the crystallite size of 15.98 nm. The SEM analysis revealed the oxide particles to have quasi spherical morphology. The band gap of Cr2O3 nanoparticles was calculated using Tauc’s plot and found to be 2.9 eV. From the BET the maximum specific surface area was found to be 16.609 m²/g associated with a pore volume of 0.066 cc/g.

Conclusion: Chromium oxide is a very good catalyst and can be used for photodegradation of a dye and helpful in commercial production of removal of such pollutants.