Influence of pH on Structural, Morphological, Optical, Photocatalytic, and Antibacterial Properties of Yttrium Oxide Nanoparticles via Co-Precipitation Method

Abstract Yttrium oxide nanoparticles with multiform morphologies have been synthesized by the co-precipitation method. The structure, morphology, functional groups, optical and photoluminescence properties were examined through X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning electron microscope (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR), UV-Visible (UV-Vis), Photoluminescence spectra (PL). The XRD patterns obtained for the samples synthesized at various pH values confirmed the cubic structure of Y2O3. The patterns obtained on the samples at pH values of 8 and 9 appeared as have sharp peaks suggested, that the samples were well crystallized. From UV-vis spectra, it revealed that the bandgap energy exhibits a blue shift in the absorption edge for the samples with the increase of pH due to their changing morphologies and surface structures. In the PL spectra, the obtained Y2O3 samples demonstrate an intense and bright UV and blue emission under the excitation wavelength range of 250 nm. The photocatalytic degradation of the Y2O3 nanostructure was studied against the Methylene blue (MB) dye under sunlight irradiation. The results showed good recital under solar light irradiation. Further, the antimicrobial activities of Y2O3 nanostructure against foodborne pathogens (Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella typhi) were examined by using the disc diffusion method. Moreover, the Y2O3 nanostructure was found to be biocompatible.