title: Hydrothermal preparation of silver telluride nanostructures and photo-catalytic investigation in degradation of toxic dyes.
abstract: Different morphologies of Ag2Te nanostructures were synthesized using TeCl4 as a new precursor and hydrazine hydrate as reducing agent by a hydrothermal method. Various parameters that affect on morphology and purity of nanostructures were optimized. According to our experiments the best time and temperature for preparation of this nanostructure are 12 h and 120 °C. The photo-catalytic behaviour of nanostructures in presence of UV-visible light for degradation of methyl orange was investigated. Results show that the presence of UV light is necessary for an efficient degradation of dye in aqueous solution. On the other hand, as observations propose the Ag2Te reveal a strong photoluminescence peak at room temperature that could be attributed to high level transition in the semiconductor. Nanostructures were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) techniques and UV-visible scanning spectrometer (UV-Vis).
authors.affiliation: Institute of Nano Science and Nano Technology, University of Kashan, Kashan, P.O. Box 87317-51167, I. R. Iran.
authors.forename: Sousan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gholamrezaei
authors.affiliation: Institute of Nano Science and Nano Technology, University of Kashan, Kashan, P.O. Box 87317-51167, I. R. Iran.
authors.forename: Masoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salavati-Niasari
authors.affiliation: Institute of Nano Science and Nano Technology, University of Kashan, Kashan, P.O. Box 87317-51167, I. R. Iran.
authors.forename: Davood
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ghanbari
authors.affiliation: Nanotechnology &Catalysis Research Centre (NANOCAT), IPS Building, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Samira
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bagheri