Preparation and Study of ZnAl2O4/CeO2 Water Remediation Photocatalyst and Its Photocatalytic Activity

Abstract

Highly efficient photocatalytic degradation of Congo red dye under simulated sunlight irradiation was achieved on a ZnAl 2 O 4 /15%CeO 2 photocatalyst. The results of structural and functional group characterization of ZnAl 2 O 4 /CeO 2 photocatalyst shows that the sample only contain X-ray diffraction peaks of ZnAl 2 O 4 and CeO 2 , no other impurities, which can increase light absorption capacity, increase specific surface area and suppress charge recombination than that of single phase of ZnAl 2 O 4 or CeO 2 . Compared to pure ZnAl 2 O 4 and CeO 2 or ZnAl 2 O 4 /5%CeO 2 and ZnAl 2 O 4 /10%CeO 2 composites, the ZnAl 2 O 4 /15%CeO 2 photocatalyst exhibited substantially improved simulated sunlight photocatalytic activity for photocatalytic degradation of Congo red dye under simulated sunlight irradiation, with the optimal dye concentration of 25 mg/L, optimal catalyst content of 50 mg/L and optimal pH value of 3 were obtained. The enhanced photocatalytic activity of ZnAl 2 O 4 /15%CeO 2 photocatalyst can be attributed to the synergistic effect of light absorption capacity, specific surface area, and active site. Finally, the photocatalytic mechanism of ZnAl 2 O 4 /CeO 2 photocatalyst was proposed on the basis of energy band theory and characterization results.