Synthesized and photocatalytic mechanism of the NiO supported YMnO${}_3$ nanoparticles for photocatalytic degradation of the methyl orange dye

The YMnO${}_3$, NiO, and NiO/YMnO${}_3$ nanocomposites are successfully prepared by a polyacrylamide gel method and a simple two phase recombination route. The phase structure, surface morphology, optical, magnetic and electrochemical properties and photocatalytic activity of as-prepared samples were measured by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning electron microscope (SEM), UV-visible spectrophotometer, superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID), electrochemical workstation and 721 spectrophotometer. Phase structure analysis indicate that the YMnO${}_3$, NiO, and NiO/YMnO${}_3$ nanocomposites has good crystallization and no other impurities. The NiO supported YMnO${}_3$ composites improved the surface morphology, optical, magnetic and electrochemical properties and photocatalytic activity of YMnO${}_3$ nanoparticles significantly. Photocatalytic experiment analysis indicate that the NiO supported YMnO${}_3$ composites exhibits highest photocatalytic activity for degradation of the methyl red dye with dye concentration of 25 mg/L. The excellent photocatalytic activity for the NiO supported YMnO${}_3$ composites can be ascribed to the fast interfacial charge transfer, high effective charge separation and the ${}^{.}$OH radicals.