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Mo-doped WO3 nanowires for adsorbing methylene blue dye from wastewater

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Abstract

Doping tungsten oxide with other metals is a promising approach for obtaining improved properties as compared with its undoped counterpart. Here, the effect of molybdenum doping on the morphology, crystalline structure, and adsorption properties of nanostructured WO3 was investigated. Undoped and Mo-doped hexagonal WO3 (h-WO3) nanowire bundles were synthesized by hydrothermal method. The samples were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, scanning transmission electron microscopy, selected-area electron diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy. The surface areas of the samples were evaluated by N2 adsorption–desorption isotherm, and their adsorption properties were evaluated based on their ability to adsorb cationic dye methylene blue (MB) in aqueous solution. Upon the addition of molybdenum, the morphology of the h-WO3 nanowire changes from large bundles to narrow bundles with a higher number of isolated thin nanowires. Mo doping also has changed the crystalline structure, porosity, and surface area of the bundled h-WO3 nanowires. Interestingly, Mo-doped h-WO3 nanowire bundles exhibit an enhanced and faster MB uptake, thus implying that Mo-doping WO3 can be an effective strategy to improve the adsorption properties, thereby adding value in developing alternative adsorption-based methods for wastewater treatment.

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Acknowledgements

JVS acknowledges the financial support of FUNCAP (grant no. 03/2018 BPI/Funcap). PTCF acknowledges PRONEX FUNCAP-CNPq (PR2-0101-00006.01.00/15). AGSF acknowledges support from CNPq (Grant 309309/2017-4) and CAPES Procad (88887.124162/2014-00). TLV acknowledges FAPERJ and CNPq. CLL acknowledges support from CNPq (Grants 311115/2017-9 and 422125/2018-0)

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Curso de Engenharia da Computação, Campus da UFC Sobral, Universidade Federal Do Ceará, Sobral, CE, CEP 62.010-560, Brazil

    J. V. Silveira

  2. Departamento de Física, Campus Ministro Petrônio Portella Bloco 03, Universidade Federal Do Piauí, Teresina, PI, CEP 64049-550, Brazil

    E. C. Moraes & C. Luz-Lima

  3. Laboratório de Caracterização de Materiais, Universidade Federal Do Cariri, Juazeiro Do Norte, CE, CEP 63000-000, Brazil

    J. V. B. Moura

  4. Departamento de Física, Centro de Ciências, Universidade Federal Do Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, CEP 60455-970, Brazil

    A. Ghosh, A. G. Souza Filho & P. T. C. Freire

  5. Central Analítica, Universidade Federal Do Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, CEP 60455-970, Brazil

    A. Ghosh

  6. Divisão de Metrologia de Materiais, Instituto Nacional de Metrologia, Qualidade E Tecnologia (INMETRO), Duque de Caxias, RJ, CEP 25250-020, Brazil

    C. A. Senna, B. S. Archanjo & T. L. Vasconcelos

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  1. J. V. Silveira
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  2. E. C. Moraes
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  3. J. V. B. Moura
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Silveira, J.V., Moraes, E.C., Moura, J.V.B. et al. Mo-doped WO3 nanowires for adsorbing methylene blue dye from wastewater. J Mater Sci 55, 6429–6440 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-020-04472-2

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