Effect of Ag doped MnO2 nanostructures suitable for wastewater treatment and other environmental pollutant applications

A modest sol-gel method has been employed to prepare the pure and Ag doped MnO2 nanoparticles and methodologically studied their physical, morphological, and photosensitive properties through XRD, TEM, EDAX, Raman, UV, PL and N2 adsorption - desorption study. Tetragonal crystalline arrangement with spherical nanoparticles was found out through XRD and TEM studies. The EDAX studies further supported that formation Ag in the MnO2 crystal matrix. The bandgap energy of Ag doped MnO2 was absorbed through UV spectra. Photo -generated recombination process and surface related defects were further recognized by PL spectra. Through visible light irradiation, the photo - degradation of methyl orange (MO) and phenol dye solutions were observed. The optimum condition of (10 wt% of Ag) Ag doped MnO2 catalyst showed tremendous photocatalytic efficiency towards MO than phenol under same experimental study. •Regular particle size was determined as 30 nm, 45 nm for bare MnO2 & AM10 samples.•The two noticeable peaks were positioned at 578 cm−1 and 637 cm−1 for bare MnO2.•Vibration bands are related to symmetric stretching vibration of Mn–O.•Both dyes act photocatalytically in the following order: AM10 > AM5 > AM2 > MnO2.•Electrons can combine with –O2 molecules to create superoxide anion radicals.