Synergistically Augmented ZnO via Cobalt and Copper Simultaneous Doping for Pollutant Reduction

Abstract

Continuous electron‐hole transfer and the ability of nanoscale materials to absorb visible light are critical for pollutant catalytic reduction. Cobalt and copper co‐doped ZnO composites were shaped by the sol‐gel solution combustion (SG‐SC) approach. The x‐ray diffraction analysis confirmed the crystalline nature and interstitial doping of copper and cobalt in the zinc oxide lattice and the development of ZnO‐CuO local contact. The PL and DRS‐UV‐vis investigations showed the NCs’ superior charge transfer and considerable redshift (from 3.17 to 2.21 eV) properties over ZnO. TEM and SEM‐EDS analyses confirmed the foam‐type surface morphology, elemental composition, and dopant distribution. The NCs showed greater potency than ZnO NPs in the catalytic reduction reactions of 4‐nitrophenol and methylene blue. Thus, the SG‐SC approach has the potential for industrially scalable catalytic pollutant reduction applications.