Facile synthesis and characterization of nickel molybdate nanorods as an effective photocatalyst by co-precipitation method

NiMoO₄ nanorods were effectively synthesized by a co-precipitation method using nickel benzoate (Ni(C₇H₅O₂)₂·4H₂O) as novel nickel source and ammonium molybdate tetrahydrate ((NH₄)₆Mo₇O₂₄·4H₂O) as molybdenum source. The effect of numerous parameters including concentration of reactants, type of surfactant and time of reaction on purity and morphology of products were investigated. Facile preparation, control of morphology and composition of products are the most important advantages of this route. The as-synthesized nanostructures were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning and transmittance electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared, and energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis. The optical property of the desired product was studied by photoluminescence spectroscopy and band gap of product was calculated about 3.2 eV. The estimated band gap shows that this product may be used as a photocatalyst, so the photocatalytic test was performed by photooxidation of methyl orange under UV irradiation and in the presence of NiMoO₄. The results showed that methyl orange degradation was about 60.7 % under for 90 min, so the synthesized product can be used as an effective photocatalyst.