Journal of Physical Chemistry & Biophysics
Open Access

Abstract

Photocatalytic Degradation Studies of Indigo Carmine Dye by Green-Synthesized Silver Nanoparticles from Theobroma cacao Extracts

Oyewole TS, Olowu RA*, Osundiya MO, Tovide OO, Akanbi PJ, Abosede SO and Ejire AA

The breakdown of dyes poses a considerable problem due to their enduring and resilient characteristics; as a result, creating materials with suitable properties for dye decomposition is a crucial research focus. This study focused on creating Silver Nanoparticles (Ag NPs) utilizing environmentally friendly synthesis techniques and non-toxic Theobroma cacao extract. Various analytical methods, including UV-visible spectroscopy, XRD, FTIR, TEM, BET, and SEM/EDX, were employed to verify the formation of Ag NPs. The produced Ag NPs exhibited a characteristic peak at 420 nm in the UV-visible spectrum. XRD analysis confirmed the crystalline structure of the nanoparticles, which had an average size of 12.78 nm. The XRD pattern showed peaks at 34.2, 37.9, 44.2, and 64.6°, corresponding to the (100), (111), (200), and (220) planes of the Face-Centered Cubic (FCC) silver crystal structure. FTIR results indicated that the extracts containing O-H functional groups played a role in capping the nanoparticle synthesis. TEM analysis revealed that the nanoparticles had a size distribution ranging from 9.22 nm to 52.60 nm in diameter. The BET method determined that the synthesized nanoparticles possessed a surface area of 15.52 m²/g and a pore diameter of 2.105 nm. SEM examination at various magnifications showed that the nanoparticles had a rough surface texture with imperfections such as cracks or voids. EDX analysis demonstrated that silver was the primary element in the nanoparticles, comprising 79.93% of their composition. The study also explored the photocatalytic performance of the Ag nanoparticles in degrading indigo carmine dye under UV light exposure. According to the results, Ag NPs exhibited a maximum removal efficiency of 80.2% in 75 min. This demonstrated that the synthesized Ag nanoparticles possess strong potential for application as photocatalysts to rapidly degrade industrial dyes in water treatment.

Published Date: 2025-06-18; Received Date: 2025-04-11