Herein, we report the synthesis of a new composite catalyst immobilized on bentonite surface (BiOCl-ZnO-Bent). The samples were characterized using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller, photoluminescence, and Diffuse Reflectance Spectra (UV-Vis DRS) analyses. BiOCl were observed as nanosheets, whereas ZnO particles were nearly spherical (SEM images). Bentonite clay was used to increase the surface area of the samples. Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area of Bi/Zn/Bent (50%) catalyst was lower than that of the ZnO-Bent and BiOCl-Bent. The prepared photocatalyst decomposed 10 mg L −1 of 3-chlorophenol (3-CP) within 180 min under UV light. Bi/Zn/ Bent (50%) catalyst showed the highest photocatalytic activity. A proposed degradation mechanism for Bi/Zn/Bent (50%) composite is also discussed.
KeywordsSemiconductors, Sol-Gel Chemistry, X-ray Diffraction, Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Catalytic Properties TiO 2 and ZrO 2 /TiO 2 composite microsphere particles were synthesized using the sol-gel method. Photoactivity of TiO 2 and ZrO 2 /TiO 2 were compared. Particles were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of X-ray (EDAX), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The study revealed that TiO 2 particles were microspheres. The decorating of ZrO 2 particles on TiO 2 surface was successfully carried out that was proved by SEM and TEM analyzes. The photo-catalytic activity of TiO 2 and ZrO 2 /TiO 2 composite microsphere particles was examined using methylene blue (MB) as reference material under UV lamp. Our findings showed that ZrO 2 /TiO 2 was more active than TiO 2 . These findings suggest a new TiO 2 -based catalyst structure to synthesize and to emphasize the importance of the shape of the catalyst.
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