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Title: Facile synthesis of pompon-like ZnO-Ag nanocomposites and their enhanced photocatalytic performance

Journal Article · · Materials Research Bulletin
;  [1];  [2];  [1];  [3];  [1];  [1]
  1. College of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430081 (China)
  2. College of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109 (China)
  3. College of Information Science and Engineering, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211 (China)

Graphical abstract: - Highlights: • Pompon-like ZnO-Ag was prepared via heterothermal and photodeposition method. • Pompon-like ZnO-Ag is a excellent photocatalyst for degradation of azo dyes. • The photocatalytic and wetting properties were studied upon UV irradiation. • The discoloring efficiency of ZnO-Ag heterostructure toward to azo dyes is 99.1%. - Abstract: A series of pompon-like ZnO-Ag nanocomposites were prepared by hydrothermal method and photochemical deposition technique. Several characterizations indicated the successful deposition of Ag nanoparticles on ZnO. As a whole, the as-prepared composites present pompon-like nanostructures with a diameter of ∼10 μm. In detail, the nanostructural, chemical and optical properties were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), infrared spectroscopy (IR), ultra-visible spectra (UV). The photocatalytic degradation experiments under UV irradiation using Methyl Orange (MO) as a model dye were executed here. The relative results demonstrated that the pompon-like ZnO-Ag nanocomposite with a suitable content of Ag nanoparticles (about 4.82 wt%) has the highest photochemical activity, and the removal ratio of MO was 99.1% after 0.5 h adsorption and subsequent 2 h photodegradation processes. The excellent photocatalytic performance was attributed to the high surface areas of ZnO nanostructure and effectively separation of photo-generated charge on flower-like ZnO by employing Ag nanoparticles as a conductor.

OSTI ID:
22285161
Journal Information:
Materials Research Bulletin, Vol. 48, Issue 10; Other Information: Copyright (c) 2013 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