Neda Rouhani - Department of Chemistry, Arak Branch, Islamic Azad University, Arak, Iran

The present research is focused on the preparation of a novel nanocomposite thin film (NCTF) including of Au nanoparticles (Au NPs) and Anderson-type polyoxometalate (POM),Na3[CrMo6O24H6], using a combination of sol-gel and photoreduction techniques in order to remove azo dyes from wastewaters. The presented thin film was characterized by UV/Vis spectroscopy, particle size distribution, and field emission-scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). To preparation of Au NPs, Anderson-type POM was utilized in the form of NCTF as a green reducing and stabilizing agent. Au NPs with particle size in the range of 10–20 nm were synthesized by applying a dip-coating technique. The photocatalytic activity of this NCTF was examined in the decolorization of methyl orange (MeO) as carcinogenic pollutant dyes applying UV irradiation. The pseudo-first-order rate constants were evaluated and computed for these reactions. A comparison between the presented NCTF with the prepared composite by Anderson-type POM revealed that thestructure of POM can affect the embedding amount of Au NPs.

Decolorization, Gold nanoparticles, Polyoxometalate, Nanocomposite thin film, Anderson