Micelle directed synthesis of (C 19 H 42 N) 4 H 3 (PW 11 O 39 ) nanoparticles and their catalytic efficiency for oxidative degradation of azo dye

The nanoparticles of monovacant lacunary keggin-type polyoxometalate (C19H42N)4H3(PW11O39) has been successfully synthesized by Micelle Directed Method using hexadecyltrimthyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) as a template. Non-ionic copolymer Pluronic F127 was used as a capping agent that helps in formation of nanoparticles by preventing the aggregation during the coating of H3(PW11O39)4- onto the counter ion (C19H42N)+. The synthesized material was characterized by Scanning electron microscope (SEM), TGA, DSC and FT-IR techniques. SEM images indicated that (C19H42N)4H3(PW11O39) nanoparticles possess spherical structure. FTIR results revealed that the structural integrity of monovacant lacunary keggin-type polyoxometalates (POM) was not affected when reducing the size. TGA–DSC results showed that the material was thermally stable (with 37 % weight loss) and POM encapsulates CTAB. The efficiency of synthesized material was checked by applying it as a catalyst for the oxidation of toxic mordant yellow dye i.e., potentially hazardous and non-biodegradable azo dye. The (C19H42N)4H3(PW11O39) nanoparticles gave 96 % dye degradation in 60 min at 60 °C temperature. Moreover, on recycling POM nanoparticles demonstrate 92 % oxidative degradation of mordant yellow dye.