Fabrication of nickel(ii) oxide (NiO) and nickel(ii) titanate (NiTiO3) heterojunction for visible light photocatalysis | |
| Author | Aditya, Vullikanti Sai |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.ISE-21-23 |
| Subject(s) | Photocatalysis Nanotechnology Coating processes--Technological innovations |
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Engineering in Nanotechnology |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Abstract | In this study, we have successfully prepared a porous heterojunction photocatalytic coating composed of p-type Nickel (II) Oxide (NiO) and n-type Nickel (II) Titanate (NiTiO3) and compared its visible light photocatalytic degradation of model organic dyes in water. We have used Methylene Blue, Methyl Red, Methyl Orange as our model pollutants. The porous NiO-NiTiO3 heterojunction thin film, which offers enhanced surface area, was deposited on quartz substrate by using a combination of spray pyrolysis technique and modified Pechini technique. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques were used to investigate the morphological and crystalline properties of the NiO, NiTiO3 thin films, and NiO/NiTiO3 heterojunction. There were mixed phases of NiO, NiTiO3, TiO2 (Rutile) in the NiTiO3 thin film was detected. Both NiO and NiTiO3 thin films showed high crystallinity and good stability against humidity (RH ~80%) and light. UV-visible absorption spectrophotometer was used to study the optical properties of the thin film, and the heterojunction electrical behavior was evaluated by studying the current voltage curves. Visible light photocatalytic degradation of model dyes in water was conducted using an artificial visible light source and dye degradation rates were evaluated to study the photocatalytic performances of the proposed thin films. Nearly 80% of methylene blue dye was degraded at the end of 150 minutes when illuminated with AM 1.5 spectrum. Methylene blue was the most degraded dye, while methyl orange being the least degraded one. The developed heterojunction photocatalyst showed promising photocatalytic activities and stability and has the potential for applications like textile industry wastewater treatment. |
| Year | 2021 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Engineering and Technology (SET) |
| Department | Department of Industrial Systems Engineering (DISE) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Industrial Systems Engineering (ISE) |
| Chairperson(s) | Bora, Tanujjal |
| Examination Committee(s) | Ekbordin Winijkul;Bhawat Traipattanakul |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Asian Institute of Technology Fellowship |
| Degree | Thesis (M. Eng.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2021 |