Fabrication of Gd2O3nanoparticles in hexane-water system using Myristica fragrans Houtt leaves extract and their photodegradation activity of malachite green

Abstract

This study aims to fabricate the Gd2O3 nanoparticles (NPs) using Myristica fragrans Houtt leaves extract (MFE) in hexane-water phases system by high-speed stirring method. We performed a phytochemical test to qualitatively confirm that MFE contained the secondary metabolite of alkaloid, steroid and saponin as a weak base source (OH-), a stabilizing agent, and a capping agent in the Gd2O3 NPs fabrication, respectively. According to SEM image, the morphology of Gd2O3 NPs was spherical shape in agglomeration. UV-Vis DRS result shows that Gd2O3 NPs has a large bandgap which was found to be 5.1 eV. XRD characterization shows that the diffraction pattern of the formed nanoparticle was well-matched with the data source of Gd2O3. The particle size of Gd2O3 NPs was approximately 40 nm confirmed by PSA. Photocatalytic activity of Gd2O3 NPs was tested for dye degradation. In this study, malachite green was utilized as a modelling of dye. The photodegradation percentage of malachite green using Gd2O3 NPs catalyst was 75.15 % for 120 min under UV light irradiation.