Scrutinizing the influence of vanadium (V5+) in Gd:MgO nanoparticles in their physicochemical properties and photocatalytic properties

Using a simple precipitation technique the preparation of V doped Gd:MgO nanoparticles are successfully achieved. Using various conventional characterization methodologies the microscopic structure, morphological and physicochemical characteristics of the synthesized particles were analyzed. Observed optical bandgap of the material lays in UV region hence photocatalytic experiments were carried out using UV light illumination. Toxic textile dye namely methyl orange (MO) and methylene blue (MB) was used as model pollutant. Among the synthesized nanoparticles 5 wt% V doped Gd:MgO performed well in photocatalytic degradation of MO and MB dye. Surface charge of the prepared photocatalyst (point of zero charge PZC) was analyzed by salt titration method. pH influence in the degradation process was scrutinized by maintaining different pH values.