PEGylated emissive CdSe/ZnS@Fe2O3 nanocrystals for the UV mediated superior degradation of methylene blue

Abstract

This work focuses on the degradation of methylene blue (MB), which has a toxic effect in water and cannot be completely removed by classical methods, i.e. under UV light. Photocatalytic nanoparticles produced in heterogeneous structure were carried out by examining the interaction of MB with our pegylated core-shell CdSe/ZnS@Fe2O3 nanocrystals under UV light in a dye-stuff solution medium. In our study CdSe/ZnS@Fe2O3 nanoparticles were synthesized and then, PEG has been attached to the surface upon careful surface engineering. The amount and time of catalyst upon degradation of MB under these conditions were investigated. The PEG:(CdSe/ZnS@Fe2O3) nanocomposite enable the degradation of MB with a photocataliytic degradation rate of 16,5*10− 3 min-1 in 30 mins, which is found to be more than 4,9 times when compared with the pegylated bare Fe2O3. It is worth noting that further optimizing the PEG:(CdSe/ZnS@Fe2O3) and the MB ratio the reaction rate reaches the maximum level of 63,12*10− 3 min-1. The PEG-(CdSe/ZnS@Fe2O3) nanocomposite exhibited a photocatalytic degradation efficiency of 84,2% within 30 min for methylene blue under visible light.