Facile Synthesis of CTAB‐Co ₃ O ₄ Quantum Dots for Pollutant Dye Remediation: UV Light Triggered Photocatalyst

Abstract This study presents cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB)‐loaded Co 3 O 4 nanoparticles (NPs) as a highly effective and promising solution for removing brilliant yellow dye (BY) from contaminated water. This preference stems from their notable attributes, including expeditious synthesis, cost‐effectiveness, and remarkable photocatalytic degradation efficiency. The NPs were synthesized through a coprecipitation cum hydrothermal method, and their comprehensive characterization was conducted using UV‐visible (vis) absorption spectroscopy, FTIR spectroscopy, XRD, TEM, and SEM. The synthesized Co 3 O 4 NPs demonstrated compelling features, like a crystallite size of 6.77 nm and an average particle size of ∼7 nm. Notably, these NPs exhibited an unprecedented photocatalytic degradation efficiency of ∼100% when applied to BY dye at a loading concentration of 200 mg/L and an exposure time of 140 min. This achievement underscores the efficacy of the CTAB‐loaded Co 3 O 4 NPs in swiftly and thoroughly degrading the target dye under specific conditions. Importantly, the novelty of this work lies in the interaction of CTAB and Co 3 O 4 NPs, showcasing their synergistic potential in addressing water pollution challenges. The enhanced synthesis process, coupled with the outstanding photocatalytic performance, positions these NPs as a promising solution for the treatment of wastewater laden with industrial BY dye. Beyond remediation applications, the study underscores the broader environmental significance of CTAB/Co 3 O 4 NPs, emphasizing their potential utility in diverse environmental applications.