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Sonochemically synthesized ZnO and Zn0.9Cu0.1O nanoparticles as photocatalysts for MB optodecolorization

M. KARIMI1,* , M. RASTEGAR RAMSHEH1, A. JODAEI2, S. M. AHMADI3, V. JAHANGIR4, M. GHASEMI5, M. BEHTAJ LEJBINI4

Affiliation

  1. Tracheal Diseases Research Center (TDRC), National Research Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases (NRITLD), Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
  2. Maham Tajhizat Parla Co., Chemistry & Chemical Engineering Research Center, Tehran, Iran
  3. Department of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
  4. Department of Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials, Materials and Energy Research Center, Karaj, Iran.
  5. Department of Chemistry, Payame Noor University, Kermanshah, Iran

Abstract

ZnO and Zn0.9Cu0.1O nanoparticles were synthesized via sonochemical method using metal nitrate and urea precursors followed by calcination at temperatures of 300, 400 and 500 ˚C. The dependence of crystallite size, morphology, chemical purity, and optical properties of Zn0.9Cu0.1O nanoparticles on calcination temperature was investigated by XRD, SEM, BET, EDS, FTIR and UV-vis absorption spectroscopy. XRD analysis showed the formation of hexagonal (nano)crystallites without any phase segregation upon doping Cu. The average crystallite size of Zn0.9Cu0.1O nanoparticles showed an increase from 30 to 150 nm upon increase of calcination temperature from 300 to 500 ˚C. SEM micrographs revealed the synthesis of spherical particles, which underwent a grain growth upon increase of calcination temperature. BET measurements suggested the decrease of specific surface area of Zn0.9Cu0.1O nanoparticles from 46.7 to 13.8 m2 /g with increase of calcination temperature from 300 to 500 ˚C. UV-vis absorption experiments showed the widening of the band gap of Zn0.9Cu0.1O nanoparticles from 3.02 eV to 3.16 eV due to increase of calcination temperature. The photocatalytic activities of all synthesized materials toward methylene blue decolorization were also assessed. Based on the comparative results, the Zn0.9Cu0.1O nanoparticles calcined at 300 ˚C show the best efficiency in methylene blue decolorization..

Keywords

Nanoparticles, Zn0.9Cu0.1O, Sonochemical method, Photocatalytic decolorization.

Submitted at: April 19, 2016
Accepted at: Oct. 10, 2017

Citation

M. KARIMI, M. RASTEGAR RAMSHEH, A. JODAEI, S. M. AHMADI, V. JAHANGIR, M. GHASEMI, M. BEHTAJ LEJBINI, Sonochemically synthesized ZnO and Zn0.9Cu0.1O nanoparticles as photocatalysts for MB optodecolorization, Journal of Optoelectronics and Advanced Materials Vol. 19, Iss. 9-10, pp. 641-649 (2017)