La2O3 nanoparticles formation using Nothopanax scutellarium leaf extract in two-phase system and photocatalytic activity under UV light irradiation

Abstract

Abstract La2O3 nanoparticles (NPs) have been formed using Nothopanax scutellarium leaf extract (NSE) and lanthanum precursor in two-phases system (n-hexane/water) with high-speed stirring method. Alkaloids as a secondary metabolite compound in NSE were used as a hydrolyzing agent and the other substances, namely saponin and tannin as a capping agent. All characterizations in this study were undertaken by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), UV-Vis DRS, X-Ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy energy-dispersive X-Ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and UV-Vis spectrophotometer. UV-Vis DRS characterization showed that La2O3 NPs has a bandgap value of 5.59 eV. The particle size of La2O3 NPs was around 84.3 nm confirmed by TEM. UV-Vis spectrophotometer was utilized to analyze the photocatalytic activity of La2O3 NPs for the degradation of malachite green (MG) as a modelling of dye. The degradation percentage of MG using La2O3 NPs was 87.32 % for 120 min under UV light irradiation.