Published on: December 2025
SYNTHESIS, CHARACTERIZATION, AND PHOTOCATALYTIC ACTIVITY OF METAL OXIDE NANOPARTICLES
Priya V. Shah
Dr. Raghav P. Deshmukh
Horizon College of Science
Article Status
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Abstract
Metal oxide nanoparticles (MONPs) have gained enormous research interest due to their unique physicochemical properties and multifaceted applications in areas such as environmental remediation, catalysis, sensors, and biomedical engineering. This study systematically investigates the synthesis of selected metal oxide nanoparticles—primarily titanium dioxide (TiO₂), zinc oxide (ZnO), and iron oxide (Fe₂O₃/Fe₃O₄)—via sol-gel and hydrothermal methods. Comprehensive characterization was performed using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and UV–Visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS). The photocatalytic performance of the synthesized nanoparticles was assessed through the degradation of methylene blue under UV and visible light irradiation. Results demonstrate that nanoparticle morphology, crystallite size, and surface area significantly influence photocatalytic efficiency. The optimized TiO₂ NPs exhibited >90% degradation of methylene blue within 120 minutes under UV irradiation. This work underscores the importance of tailored synthesis and thorough characterization in enhancing catalytic performance and provides insight into structure–activity relationships critical for environmental applications. The study further explores the effects of synthesis parameters on particle size distribution and surface defect states, which are crucial for enhancing light absorption and charge carrier dynamics. Comparative analysis reveals that hydrothermal methods yield nanoparticles with more uniform morphology and higher crystallinity compared to sol-gel techniques. These findings provide a foundation for optimizing synthesis routes to achieve superior photocatalytic materials tailored for specific environmental challenges.
How to Cite this Paper
Shah, P. V. (2025). Synthesis, Characterization, and Photocatalytic Activity of Metal Oxide Nanoparticles. International Journal of Creative and Open Research in Engineering and Management, <i>01</i>(03), 1-9. https://doi.org/10.55041/ijcope.v1i3.004
Shah, Priya. "Synthesis, Characterization, and Photocatalytic Activity of Metal Oxide Nanoparticles." International Journal of Creative and Open Research in Engineering and Management, vol. 01, no. 03, 2025, pp. 1-9. doi:https://doi.org/10.55041/ijcope.v1i3.004.
Shah, Priya. "Synthesis, Characterization, and Photocatalytic Activity of Metal Oxide Nanoparticles." International Journal of Creative and Open Research in Engineering and Management 01, no. 03 (2025): 1-9. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.55041/ijcope.v1i3.004.
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