Nickel oxide nanoparticles: biosynthesized, characterization and photocatalytic application in degradation of methylene blue dye

In the present study, nickel oxide nanoparticles were prepared using the aqueous extract of Zizyphus jujuba. The temperature and time calcination was studied on size and morphology of synthesized nanoparticles. In addition, the obtained nanoparticles were identified through PXRD, UV-Vis, Raman, FESEM, and EDX methods. The results of PXRD, which were surveyed through Debye-Scherrer and Rietveld refinement, confirmed the face centered cubic (FCC) structure of synthesized nanoparticles. The formation of synthesized NiO NPs was indicated by peak that was revealed at 295 nm through UV-Vis spectrum. According to the FESEM results, the obtained nanoparticles (at 350 to 600 C temperatures) were uniformed in shape and contained a size range of about 5-30 nm. Subsequent to investigating their photocatalytic activity against methylene blue (MB) dye in the role of a cationic dye, we estimated the degradation coefficient of methylene blue to be 65.5% throughout 180 min of treatment time.