Phthalate precursor mediated synthesis of cadmium oxide nanoparticles and their photocatalytic application

Abstract

Cadmium oxide samples have been prepared by thermal decomposition of their precursors [Cd(pht)(H sub(2)O)] (1), [Cd(pht)(Im)(H sub(2)O) sub(0.5)] (2), [Cd(pht)(MeIm)] (3) and [Cd(pht)(bpy)(H sub(2)O) sub(2)] (4) respectively (pht = phthalate, Im = imidazole, MeIm = 2-methylimidazole, bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine). Precursor 1 has been synthesized by a reaction of in situ generated disodium phthalate with cadmium acetate, while 2-4 were prepared by adding Im, MeIm and bpy respectively, to the solution of 1. All compounds are characterized by elemental analysis, infrared spectroscopy and thermal techniques (TG/DTA). The particle size of CdO nanoparticles ranges from 53-62 nm as evident by PXRD, SEM/ TEM studies. The band gap values for CdO samples lie in the range 1.95-1.98 eV. The photolytic degradation rates of methylene blue by CdO are inversely proportional to the crystallite sizes of CdO samples.