CTAB‐Assisted Synthesis of Iron Oxide Nanoparticles for Enhanced Photocatalytic Dye Degradation

Iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) are successfully synthesized through a straightforward and cost‐effective chemical precipitation technique. The as‐prepared IONPs in hematite phase are employed as photocatalysts to assess their efficiency in degrading methylene blue (MB) dye under visible light irradiation. Structural and morphological characteristics of the synthesized material are examined using techniques such as X‐ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, field‐emission scanning electron microscopy, UV‐visible spectroscopy, and photoluminescence (PL) analysis. XRD results confirm the crystalline nature of the nanoparticles, further supported by Raman spectroscopy. The optical studies reveal a reduction in bandgap with the incorporation of iron oxide, enhancing visible‐light absorption. PL measurements indicate suppressed emission intensity, suggesting reduced recombination of photo‐generated charge carriers. Photocatalytic experiments demonstrate that the IONPs achieve 96.9% degradation of MB dye within 120 min. The photocatalyst also demonstrates good reusability, making it a promising, low‐cost solution for efficient dye removal in wastewater treatment and sustainable environmental cleanup applications.