Effects of amino acid capping-agents on the size and morphology and photocatalytic properties of BNCTO nanostructures

A novel sol-gel method was developed for preparing Na1/2Bi1/2Cu3Ti4O12 (BNCTO) nanostructures using bismuth nitrate, copper nitrates, sodium nitrate, tetra-n-butyl titanate (TNBT), cysteine, asparagine, and alanine as capping and reducing agents, and fuel. The prepared nanostructures were thermally treated at 900 degrees C h to remove the organic impurities and form nano-crystalline structures and the resulting BNCTO nanostructures were further evaluated through UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV-Vis DRS), field emission scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis, and X-ray diffraction. The ferromagnetic properties of the samples were also studied through alternating gradient force magnetometery. The photocatalytic properties of the BNCTO nanostructures in the photo-degradation of methyl orange in water samples, were also assessed.