Abstract
BaWO4 nanoparticleswere successfully used as the photocatalysts in the degradation of methylthioninium chloride (MTC) dye at different pH levels of aqueous solution. Pure phase of barium tungstate (BaWO4) nanoparticles was synthesized by modified molten salt process at 500 degrees C for 6 h. Structural and morphological characterizations of BaWO4 nanoparticles (average particle size of similar to 40 nm) were studied in details using powder x-ray diffraction (XRD), FTIR, Raman, energy-dispersive, electron microscopic, and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) techniques. Direct band gap energy of BaWO4 nanoparticles was found to be similar to 3.06 eV from the UV-visible absorption spectroscopy followed by Tauc's model. Photocatalytic properties of the nanoparticles were also investigated systematically for the degradation ofMTC dye solution in various mediums. BaWO4 nanoparticles claim the significant enhancement of the photocatalytic degradation of aqueous MTC dye to non-hazardous inorganic constitutes under alkaline, neutral, and acidic mediums.