Efficient catalytic activity of novel fluorescent polyimide embedded Ag and V2O5 nanoparticles towards the removal of hazardous pollutants

Highlights: • The PI/Ag nanocomposite system yielded higher Td value. • The PI/V2O5 system produced the cage like structure. • The PI/Ag nanocomposite system produced higher kapp value towards the reduction of NP and R6G. • The PI/ V2O5 nanocomposite system exhibited higher kapp value for the reduction of Cr(VI). A novel fluorescent polyimide (PI) made up of perylenetetracarboxylic dianhydride (PTCDAH) and p-phenylenediamine (PPDA) was prepared with or without Ag and V₂O₅ nanoparticles at 160 °C for 5 h under N₂ atmosphere with vigorous stirring. The influence of nanomaterials on the rate of polymerization (R_p) was determined. The synthesized PI and PI nanocomposites were characterized to analyse their chemical functionality (FT-IR), surface morphology (FE-SEM) and thermal properties (DSC and TGA). The catalytic reduction of Cr (VI), p-nitrophenol (NP) and rhodamine6G (R6G) dye was analysed using the prepared PI and PI nanocomposites as a catalyst. It was found that the R_p of PI nanocomposites was higher than pristine PI system. The PI/Ag nanocomposite system exhibited higher degradation temperature (T_d) and apparent rate constant (k_app) values towards the reduction of R6G dye.