Long single crystalline α-Mn2O3 nanorods: facile synthesis and photocatalytic application

Abstract

Single crystalline cubic sesquioxide bixbyite α-Mn₂O₃ nanorods have been synthesized successfully by a simple, low cost, environmental benign hydrothermal route. As synthesized γ-MnOOH were calcined at 600 °C to obtain α-Mn₂O₃ nanorods, which were further subjected to various characterizations. The alpha manganese sesquioxide cubic bixbyite-type oxide formation was confirmed by the XRD studies. The surface morphology and elemental analysis were explored by SEM with EDX studies, respectively. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy HRTEM and SAED showed that the α-Mn₂O₃ nanorods were single crystalline and were grown along the C-axis of the crystal plane. The UV–visible spectrum indicated that the absorption was prominent in the ultraviolet region. In addition, PL spectrum result of α-Mn₂O₃ nanorods recommended possible photocatalytic applications. The photocatalyst ensures a new platform for the decolorization of dye molecules of the harmful cationic dyes like methylene blue and rhodamine B. Possible growth mechanism and photocatalytic dye degradation mechanism were proposed for synthesized α-Mn₂O₃ nanorods.