Fabrication of Nano-Ag Encapsulated on ZnO/Fe 2 V 4 O 13 Hybrid-Heterojunction for Photodecomposition of Methyl Orange

Gowthami Kaliyamoorthy, Surya Chinnasamy, Uma Devi Pongiya, Vijayalakshmi Rajadurai, Thirunarayanan Ganesamoorthy, Stalin Thambusamy and Muthuvel Inbasekaran ()
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Gowthami Kaliyamoorthy: Advanced Photocatalysis Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar 608 002, Tamil Nadu, India
Surya Chinnasamy: Department of Biochemistry, Dhanalakshmi Srinivasan College of Arts and Science for Women (Autonomous), Perambalur 621 212, Tamil Nadu, India
Uma Devi Pongiya: Department of Biochemistry, Dhanalakshmi Srinivasan College of Arts and Science for Women (Autonomous), Perambalur 621 212, Tamil Nadu, India
Vijayalakshmi Rajadurai: Department of Chemical Engineering, Anna University, Chennai 600 025, Tamil Nadu, India
Thirunarayanan Ganesamoorthy: Advanced Photocatalysis Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar 608 002, Tamil Nadu, India
Stalin Thambusamy: Department of Industrial Chemistry, Alagappa University, Karaikudi 630 003, Tamil Nadu, India
Muthuvel Inbasekaran: Advanced Photocatalysis Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar 608 002, Tamil Nadu, India

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 23, 1-17

Abstract: Novel silver encapsulated nanocomposite zinc oxide/iron tetra-poly-vanadate (Ag-ZnO/Fe 2 V 4 O 13 ) was synthesized with various wt% of silver (1.0–2.5 wt% of Ag) by cost-effective photo-deposition method under the irradiation of ultraviolet-A (UV-A) light. The nanostructure of the Ag-ZnO/Fe 2 V 4 O 13 was explored by various characterization techniques. The surface functionalities were confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectra and the crystalline nature of the material was revealed by X-ray diffraction patterns. Furthermore, the surface morphology and the optical properties of the composites were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray–elemental color mapping (ECM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), ultraviolet–visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy and photoluminescence. The crystallite size of Ag-ZnO/Fe 2 V 4 O 13 was 28.5 nm which was consistent with HRTEM analysis. The photocatalytic activity was tested against aqueous methyl orange degradation under UV-A light irradiation. In all five runs, the stability of the catalyst was confirmed by reusability measurements and almost 98% of degradation was achieved. A suitable degradation pathway was proposed based on intermediates obtained during the degradation analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Trapping experiments confirmed that the superoxide radical anion (O 2 •− ) was considered as the most active species for this degradation process. Complete mineralization was confirmed by the measurements of chemical oxygen demand.

Keywords: photodegradation; Ag-ZnO/Fe 2 V 4 O 13; methyl orange; nano-heterojunction; wastewater treatment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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