Improved photocatalytic performance of ZnO through AgCu bimetal coupling for the photodegradation of nitrobenzene

• Main Authors: Aliyu, Hauwa Sidi, Abdullah, Abdul Halim, Abbas, Zulkifly
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Institut Kimia Malaysia 2017
• Online Access: http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/62118/1/Improved%20photocatalytic%20performance%20of%20ZnO%20through%20AgCu%20bimetal%20coupling%20for%20the%20photodegradation%20of%20nitrobenzene.pdf; http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/62118/; https://ikm.org.my/ojs/index.php/MJChem/article/view/30

A ZnO semiconductor with bimetals (Ag and Cu) coupled in the matrix was successfully prepared using a microwave irradiation technique under a very low synthetic temperature and power of 120ºC and 240 W, respectively. The phase, structural, morphological, and elemental compositions of the synthesized AgCu-ZnO photocatalyst were investigated using transmission electron microscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and energy dispersed X-ray and X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy. The band gap energy of the photocatalyst was estimated from the absorption data obtained in UV-Vis spectroscopic analysis. The photodegradation efficiency of the AgCu-ZnO photocatalyst immobilised on a glass plate was evaluated using nitrobenzene (NB) as the model organic pollutant. The immobilized AgCu/ZnO photocatalyst effectively degraded 99% of 20 ppm NB at an optimum catalyst loading of 0.75 g after 2 h of visible light irradiation.