Photocatalytic activity of electrospun MgO nanofibres: Synthesis, characterization and applications

[Display omitted] •MgO nanofibres with high photocatalytic activity were successfully fabricated.•Electrospinning method via PVA/magnesium precursor based system was used.•Dye degradation of MgO nanofibres was compared with spherical MgO nanoparticles.•MgO nanofibres exhibited excellent photocatalyt...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Materials research bulletin 2018-03, Vol.99, p.204-210
Main Authors: Mantilaka, M.M.M.G. Prasanga Gayanath, De Silva, Rangika T., Ratnayake, Samantha P., Amaratunga, Gehan, de Silva, K.M. Nalin
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
ATOMIC FORCE MICROSCOPY
Dye wastes
DYES
ELECTRON DIFFRACTION
Electrospinning
MAGNESIUM
Magnesium oxide
MAGNESIUM OXIDES
NANOFIBERS
Nanofibres
NANOPARTICLES
NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY
PHOTOCATALYSIS
Photocatalytic degradation
PVA
ROUGHNESS
SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
SPHERICAL CONFIGURATION
SYNTHESIS
TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION
WASTES
X-RAY RADIOGRAPHY
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Summary:[Display omitted] •MgO nanofibres with high photocatalytic activity were successfully fabricated.•Electrospinning method via PVA/magnesium precursor based system was used.•Dye degradation of MgO nanofibres was compared with spherical MgO nanoparticles.•MgO nanofibres exhibited excellent photocatalytic activity against Reactive Yellow.•MgO nanofibres show a great potential in efficient treatment of dye effluents. One dimensional MgO nanofibres with high photocatalytic activity were fabricated using the electrospinning method via a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/magnesium precursor based system and the dye degradation efficacy of MgO nanofibres was compared with MgO nanospheres. Optimum electrospinning parameters including suitable magnesium precursors were investigated and the formation of MgO nanofibres were confirmed with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive x-ray (EDX) mapping. Furthermore, the crystalline lattice structure and surface roughness of fabricated nanofibres were evaluated using transmission electron microscopic-electron diffraction mode (TEM-SAED) and atomic force microscopy (AFM), respectively. Fabricated MgO nanofibres exhibited excellent photocatalytic degradation activity against widely used model reactive dye, Reactive Yellow (RY). In contrast to MgO nanospheres, electrospun MgO nanofibres completely degraded the reactive dye under UV irradiation. These photocatalytic MgO nanofibres show a great potential to be used in efficient treatment of industrial dye effluents.
ISSN:0025-5408
1873-4227
DOI:10.1016/j.materresbull.2017.10.047