Green synthesis of Ag / ZnO nanoparticle for the photocatalytic degradation of gentian violet dye

Mubeenabanu & Veemaraj

Nanomaterial | SEM

Vol: 11; Iss. 2; Feb. 25 | ISSN: 2454-5422

The present work outlines the effect of silver ion doping on structural, morphological, optical and photocatalytic characteristics of ZnO (ZnO NPs) and ZnO:Ag nanoparticles (Ag/ZnO NPs) prepared via simple co-precipitation method. All ZnO NPs and Ag/ZnO NPs were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and UV–Visible spectroscopy. The synthesized ZnO-Ag nanoparticle was characterized using X – ray diffraction (XRD), The XRD pattern revealed that hexagonal wurtzite structured crystallite phase that 2θ values at 32º, 34.3º, 36.5º, 47.6º, 56.7º, 62.7º,67.9º, and 69º equivalent to (100), (002), (101), (102), (110), (103), (112) and (201) planes in that order which are in good agreement with the standard JCPDS file for ZnO and can be indexed as the hexagonal wurtzite structure of ZnO. The Scanning Electron Microscopy showed that surface microstructures have random and nearly uniform distribution of nanoparticles with different shapes and size on the surface. The UV-Visible spectra in the wavelength range 200-800 nm as a function of Ag concentration were recorded. In comparison to bare ZnO, the optical absorption edge of Ag-ZnO has been shifted distantly towards longer wavelength region. Experiments revealed that, as compared to ZnO, the photodegradation of gentian violet dye was enhanced by the use of Ag-ZnO catalyst. The photocatalytic efficiency of Ag doped ZnO nanoparticles suggest that they have high efficiency in water treatment applications.

Dr. T.Veemaraj, Centre for Research and Post-Graduate Studies in Chemistry, Ayya Nadar Janaki Ammal College (Autonomous), Sivakasi, Tamilnadu, India