Ultrasound-assisted Ta2O5 nanoparticles and their photocatalytic and biological applications

Abstract Ta 2 O 5 nanoparticles were synthesized by ultrasound-assisted method. The prepared nanoparticles were characterized structurally by XRD, Raman and morphologically by SEM and TEM. From the XRD pattern, orthorhombic phase Ta 2 O 5 was observed. Raman studies confirm the presence of Ta O at 613 cm −1 . TEM images show the average particle size of about 21 nm. Band gap of Ta 2 O 5 nanoparticles were carried out by UV-DRS and found to be 3.12 eV. Photocatalytic activity of Ta 2 O 5 nanoparticles have been examined for the degradation of methylene blue dye and shows 96% degradation after 2 h under visible light irradiation. Ta 2 O 5 nanoparticles also exhibited good antibacterial activity against the foodborne pathogens and anti-breast cancer (MCF-7: IC 50 : 45.04 μg/mL) activity.