Decolorization of MB dye by Cobalt(II, III) oxide QDs linked to silvermolybdate as an impressive heterojunction photocatalyst under theirradiation of visible light

Environmental pollution has become the main concern to humans [۱,۲]. From the point ofview of numerous and permanent solar energy, photocatalysis has attracted much attentionworldwide in environmental improvement and energy generation in the last years [۳-۵]. Herein,the synthesis of cobalt(II, III) oxide QDs-Ag۲MoO۴ heterojunction was reported by hydrothermalmethod and identified by different techniques such as FT-IR, XRD, FE-SEM, EDS, TEM, DRS,PL, and UV–Vis spectroscopy. The SEM images illustrate that silver molybdate particles andcobalt(II, III) oxide QDs-AMO have a morphology of ۳D-hexagons and nanosheets collected onthe surface of ۳D-hexagons with an average size of ۳۶ and ۲۸ nm, respectively. The cobalt(II, III)oxide QDs-silver molybdate photocatalyst was used toward the decolorization of MB with aconversion rate of ۹۱%, which is ۱۵ times faster than pure AMO. The higher photocatalyst activityof cobalt(II, III) oxide QDs-AMO should be attributed to its lower charge recombination ratecompared with pure silver molybdate. The stability of this photocatalyst was determined byreusing it for five times without a remarkable decline in its activity. In addition, a postulatedmechanism by the hydroxyl radical way was suggested.