Photocatalytic Performance Improvement by Doping Ag on ZnO/MWCNTs Nanocomposite Prepared with Pulsed Laser Ablation Method Based Photocatalysts Degrading Rhodamine B Organic Pollutant Dye

Abstract

ZnO/MWCNTs nanocomposite has significant potential in photocatalytic and environmental treatment. Unfortunately, its photocatalytic efficacy is not high enough due to its poor light absorbance and quick recombination of photo-generated carriers, which might be improved by incorporation with noble metal nanoparticles. Herein, Ag-doped ZnO/MWCNTs nanocomposite was prepared using a pulsed laser ablation approach in the liquid media and examined as a degradable catalyst for Rhodamine B. (RhB). Different techniques were used to confirm the formation of the nanostructured materials (ZnO and Ag) and the complete interaction between them and MWCNTs. X-ray diffraction pattern revealed the hexagonal wurtzite crystal structure of ZnO and Ag. Additionally, UV-visible absorption spectrum was used to study the change throughout the shift in the transition energies, which affected the photocatalytic degradation. Furthermore, the morphological investigation by a scanning electron microscope showed the successful embedding and decoration of ZnO and Ag on the outer surface of CNTs. Moreover, the oxidation state of the formed final nanocomposite was investigated via an X-ray photoelectron spectrometer. After that, the photocatalytic degradations of RhB were tested using the prepared catalysts. The results showed that utilizing Ag significantly impacted the photo degradation of RhB by lowering the charge carrier recombination, leading to 95% photocatalytic degradation after 12 min. The enhanced photocatalytic performance of the produced nanocomposite was attributed to the role of the Ag dopant in generating more active oxygen species. Moreover, the impacts of the catalyst amount, pH level, and contact time were discussed.

Fast and Excellent Enhanced Photocatalytic Degradation of Methylene Blue Using Silver-Doped Zinc Oxide Submicron Structures under Blue Laser Irradiation

“…Ag doping dramatically improved photocatalytic activity by increasing surface area and oxygen defects. The shortterm increase in activity of Ag-doped ZnO submicron structures makes them suitable for cost-friendly and environmentally friendly pollutant remediation [37]. The photodegradation efficiency (PDE%) was calculated according to Equation (3) as a quantitative representation of the degraded dye, as shown in Figure 10.…”

A Nanocomposite of ZnO and N,P‐Co‐Doped Carbon Dots for the Photocatalytic Degradation of Various Dyes and their Kinetic Study

“…Subsequent demethylation and dichlorination reactions further progress, ultimately yielding CO 2 and H 2 O as end products (Figure S3). [32] In the case of MO (Figure S4), the degradation pathway commences with the [20] ZnO/C-dots MB 30 96 [21] ZnO/CQDs RhB 105 83 [22] CQDs/ZnO RhB 60 98 [23] CQDs/ ZnO@HNTs TC 90 92.48 [24] ZnO/carbon foam RhB 120 98 [25] ZnO/multiwall carbon nanotubes RhB 120 40.01 [26] Nanoflower ZnO MO 240 100 [27] ZnO:CuO MO 60 45 [28] ZnO of the dye molecules via hydrogen bonding and π-π interactions, which aids in the photocatalytic process. As a result, the overall study provides a thorough explanation for photocatalysis and strongly suggests that ZnO-NPCdots nanocomposite can be employed to reduce water pollution.…”