Photocatalytic Degradation of Methyl Orange by Ag-N Co-Doped ZnO Nanoparticles

Abstract

In this study synthesis, characterization and photocatalytic application of Silver, Nitrogen co-dopped Zinc Oxide nanoparticles has been made. Four series of zinc oxide catalyst, (ZnO, Ag-ZnO, N-ZnO and Ag-N-ZnO) were prepared. All these oxides nanocomposites were prepared by aqueous combustion synthesis method using Zn(CH₃COO)₂.2H₂O, AgNO₃ and N₂H₄CO as precursors. The as-synthesized nanoparticles were characterized by XRD and UV-Vis DRS techniques. From XRD analysis, it was clearly observed that the as-synthesized samples have ZnO predominantly N-ZnO and Ag–ZnO phases as well. The UV-Vis spectra study assured that the band gap decreased as N and Ag dopped to ZnO and hence the absorption band shifts toward the longer wavelength region (red shift). The experimental results showed that Methyl orange degradation depends on the doped elements. In all cases, the photocatalytic activity gradually increased with addition of doping elements N and Ag. As-synthesized Ag and N co-doped ZnO showed higher photoactivity than the Ag or N-doped ZnO as well as calcined ZnO in both UV and solar irradiation.

Keywords: Degradation; Doping; Nanoparticles; Methyl orange; Photocatalysis; Zinc Oxide.