Facile green synthesis of Molybdenum oxide nanoparticles using Centella Asiatica plant: Its photocatalytic and electrochemical lead sensor applications.

The molybdenum oxide nanoparticles (MoO₃ NPs) have been successfully synthesized via green combustion method using Centella asiatica plant powder. The powder x-ray diffraction (PXRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic (FTIR), scanning electron microscopic (SEM) and diffuse reflectance spectroscopic (DRS) techniques were used to characterize the MoO₃ nanoparticles. The PXRD patterns of the sample revealed pure hexagonal phase. The Scherrer's method was employed to find the crystallite size of the synthesized material and the result obtained was confirmed by the TEM analysis. The optical energy band gap value (E_g) of the sample was calculated using the Tauc relation, and it was found to be around 3.41 eV. The photocatalytic degradation of MoO₃ NPs on Direct Green (DG) and Navy Blue (NB) dye was evaluated under UV light irradiation. The electrochemical study of prepared electrode with graphite powder in 0.1 M KOH electrolyte solution displayed superior redox potential output as intended by cyclic voltammetric and amperometric studies, where the material was employed for its sensing abilities such as a highly toxic metal like lead. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]