Development
of the Sb4O5Cl2@NbSe2 Composite:
The Impact of 2H-NbSe2 Nanoparticles on Sb4O5Cl2 and Their
Application for the Removal of Cr(VI)/Fe(III) and Methyl Orange from
Wastewater
posted on 2024-01-22, 23:03authored bySangita Das, Sayantani Paul, Bibaswan Sen, Pratyasha Rudra, Swastik Mondal, Sk Imran Ali
A potential adsorbent, Sb4O5Cl2@NbSe2 composite, was generated
from the Sb4O5Cl2 photocatalyst and
5 wt % layered
2H-NbSe2 nanoparticles for the highly effective removal
of Cr(VI)
and Fe(III) ions and methyl orange (MO) from aqueous solution, and
a comparison was drawn against the precursors. Sb4O5Cl2 crystallites and NbSe2 nanoparticles
were synthesized hydrothermally, and the composite was prepared by
the incipient wetness impregnation technique. The crystal structure
of Sb4O5Cl2 was determined by single-crystal
X-ray diffraction (SCXRD) data. Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) study
revealed the 2H phase of NbSe2 nanoparticles. Field emission
scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) analysis confirmed the formation
of the spherical-shaped NbSe2 nanoparticles from rod-shaped
bulk 2H-NbSe2. Morphological changes from the hexagonal
to irregular prismatic shape were found upon the formation of the
Sb4O5Cl2@NbSe2 composite
compared to pure Sb4O5Cl2. Negative
ζ-potential values indicated that electrostatic interactions
were the predominant factor for the adsorption process. Sb4O5Cl2@NbSe2 provided removal efficiencies
of 99% for MO in 6 h, 96.52% for Cr(VI) within 2.5 h, and 92.43% for
Fe(III) within 4 h of 10 mg/L initial concentration. The maximum adsorption
capacities of the composite for MO, Fe(III), and Cr(VI) were found
to be 66.56, 131.48, and 122.30 mg/g, respectively, as calculated
using the Langmuir isotherm equation.