Microwave-assisted combustion synthesis of Ag/ZnO nanocomposites and their photocatalytic activities under ultraviolet and visible-light irradiation

Journal Article · Thu Jan 15 00:00:00 EST 2015 · Materials Research Bulletin

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/J.MATERRESBULL.2014.10.048· OSTI ID:22420771

Zhang, Dafeng; Pu, Xipeng; Li, Huaiyong ^[1]; Yu, Young Moon ^[2]; Shim, Jae Jeong; Cai, Peiqing; Kim, Sun Il ^[3]

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1. School of Materials Science and Engineering, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng, Shandong 252000 (China)
2. LED-Marin Convergence Technology R and BD Center, Pukyong National University, Busan 608-739 (Korea, Republic of)
3. Department of Physics and Interdisciplinary Program of Biomedical, Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Pukyong National University, Busan 608-737 (Korea, Republic of)

Highlights: • Ag/ZnO nanocomposites were synthesized by a microwave-assisted combustion method. • Ag/ZnO nanocomposites exhibited improved photocatalytic activities under UV irradiation. • Poorer photocatalytic performances were obtained under visible-light irradiation. - Abstract: Ag/ZnO nanocomposites were synthesized by a rapid one-step microwave-assisted combustion method. The as-synthesized samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, photoluminescence and ultraviolet–visible spectrophotometry. XRD results showed that hexagonal ZnO and cubic Ag were obtained. Ag nanoparticles were chemically attached on the surface of ZnO. The decrease in the energy band gap of Ag/ZnO nanocomposites and the photoluminescence quenching were observed while the Ag content was increased. Furthermore, the introduction of Ag nanoparticles leads to significantly improved photocatalytic activities in the case of ultraviolet irradiation, but in the case of visible-light irradiation opposite results were obtained. The corresponding mechanism was discussed in detail.

• OSTI ID: 22420771
• Journal Information: Materials Research Bulletin, Vol. 61; Other Information: Copyright (c) 2014 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

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
IRRADIATION
MICROWAVE RADIATION
NANOCOMPOSITES
NANOPARTICLES
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
PHOTOCATALYSIS
PHOTOLUMINESCENCE
SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
SILVER
SPECTROPHOTOMETRY
SURFACES
SYNTHESIS
TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION
VISIBLE RADIATION
X-RAY DIFFRACTION
X-RAY PHOTOELECTRON SPECTROSCOPY
ZINC OXIDES