Structural, optical and photocatalytic properties under UV-A and visible lights of Co-, Ni- and Cu-doped ZnO nanomaterials. Comparative study

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2024

Authors

Aadnan, I (Author) Other; Zegaoui, O (Author) Other; El Mragui, A (Author) Other; Moussout, H (Author) Other; Joaquim C G E Esteves da Silva (Author) FCUP

Journal

Title: Arabian Journal of Chemistry

Vol. 17

ISSN: 1878-5352

Publisher: King Saud University

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 0 Citations

Scopus - 0 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00Z-9WX

DOI: 10.1016/j.arabjc.2023.105336

Abstract (EN): In this investigation, Co-, Ni- and Cu-doped ZnO nanoparticles were prepared using precipitation methods. The characterization of the as-prepared nanomaterials was carried out using XRD, FT-IR, DRS, XPS and SEM. The XRD analysis showed that the insertion of foreign metal ions into the matrix of ZnO caused a slight shift of the positions of (100), (002) and (101) diffraction peaks of ZnO towards the lower 2 theta, by comparison with pure ZnO. The DRS results showed that Co-doped ZnO nanoparticles absorb wavelengths higher than 400 nm. The estimated band gaps (eV) were 2.48, 3.17 and 3.14 for 10 %Co-ZnO, 10 %Ni-ZnO and 10 %Cu-ZnO respectively. The XPS results showed the existence of two valence states for Co and Ni (Co2+/Co3+ and Ni2+/Ni3+) while Cu exists in the form of Cu2+. The photocatalytic efficiency was evaluated under UV and visible irradiations in aqueous solution using methyl orange (MO) as an organic pollutant probe molecule. The results showed that, under visible light, the MO degradation increased significantly by doping ZnO (10 %Co-ZnO: 33.2 %; 10 %NiZnO: 19.8 % and 10 %Cu-ZnO: 52.5 %) by comparison with undoped ZnO (9.3 %). The important increase in photocatalytic activity observed for the doped ZnO by comparison with pure ZnO, particularly for 10 %Cu-ZnO, has been linked to a synergistic effect of both the band gap narrowing and the increase in the lifetime of photogenerated charge carriers.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 10