Abstract
Herein we present the facile preparation and characterization of different contents of cobalt doped nickel oxide (Co:NiO) nanostructures for multifunction applications. Phase confirmation has been done through structural and vibrational analyses. Compositional along with elemental homogeneity analyses was performed using EDX/FESEM e-mapping techniques. Morphology of all prepared samples was investigated through FESEM which shows that the prepared materials are nanoparticles of spherical shape and the dimension is below 20 nm. The morphology, size and phase was further studied by TEM/HRTEM analysis. The energy gap of the prepared Co:NiO NPs was calculated using Kubelka-Munk relation and found to be 3.40, 3.48, 3.47, 3.43 and 3.45 eV for pure, 1.0, 2.5, 5.0, and 7.5 wt.% Co:NiO NPs, correspondingly. The photocatalysis studies along with TOC was performed for degrading the MB toxic dye under UV-light irradiation. The highest degrading efficiency of 83% was observed for 5.0 wt.% Co:NiO NPs. The improved photocatalytic performance of NiO with Co doping makes it potential candidate for multifunctional devices.