Effect of catalyst concentration on methylene blue dye degradation by using nickel phosphide nanoparticles

In this study, nickel phosphide nanostructure was fabricated by hydrothermal method using nickel chloride and red phosphorus precursors. The prepared sample was characterized by using XRD, FESEM and UV-Vis absorption analysis. The results showed that the sample has a bi-phase Ni2P / Ni12P5 crystal structure and has a spherical nanoparticle morphology. Then, the effect of different concentrations of catalyst (20 ppm, 100 ppm, 200 ppm, and 1000 ppm) on methylene blue degradation under UV light irradiation, without any other additive, was investigated. It was found that catalyst with a concentration of 100 ppm had the highest degradation value. By further increase of the catalyst concentration in the solution, the degradation rate decreases due to an increase in the opacity of the suspension and agglomeration of nanoparticles at high concentrations.