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Title: Fe-doped ZnO nanoellipsoids for enhanced photocatalytic and highly sensitive and selective picric acid sensor

Journal Article · · Materials Research Bulletin
 [1];  [2]; ; ;  [3]
  1. Department of Applied Sciences and Humanities, Government Polytechnic, Sundernagar, Mandi, 175018 (India)
  2. Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences and Arts, Najran University, Najran, 11001 (Saudi Arabia)
  3. Department of Chemistry, Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla, 5 (India)

Highlights: • Low-temperature synthesis of Fe-doped ZnO nanoellipsoids. • Used as efficient photocatalyst for photocatalytic degradation of various dyes (RhB, MB, MO). • Potential scaffold for fabrication of highly sensitive and selective picric acid sensor. - Abstract: Herein, we report the synthesis, characterization, and photocatalytic and sensing capabilities of crystalline Fe-doped ZnO nanoellipsoids (NEs). These NEs were synthesized by a low-temperature simple solution process and were characterized with respect to their structural, morphological, optical, compositional, photocatalytic and sensing properties. The detailed studies confirmed that the synthesized NEs were grown in high density possessing wurtzite hexagonal phase and exhibiting good optical properties. Further, the NEs were applied as a photocatalyst for the photocatalytic degradation of various harmful organic dyes such as methyl orange (MO), rhodamine B (RhB) and methylene blue (MB). Interestingly, it was observed that MB and RhB dyes undergo almost 100% photodegradation with 15–60 min, however, MO dye requires 90 min for the degradation. It is also found that picric acid quenches the luminescence of the NEs (with excitation/emission maxima of 380/392 nm). This finding is exploited in a luminescent assay for picric acid with a 2.9 μM lower detection limit and a linear range that extends from 5 to 60 μmol L{sup −1}. The results show that simply synthesized Fe-doped ZnO nanomaterials can efficiently be used for the photocatalytic and sensing applications.

OSTI ID:
22805135
Journal Information:
Materials Research Bulletin, Vol. 102; Other Information: Copyright (c) 2017 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved.; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0025-5408
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English