Facile Synthesis of Ni-Doped ZnO Nanostructures via Laser-Assisted Chemical Bath Synthesis with High and Durable Photocatalytic Activity
Samer H. Zyoud,
Vanga Ganesh,
Che Azurahanim Che Abdullah,
Ibrahim S. Yahia,
Ahed H. Zyoud,
Atef F. I. Abdelkader,
Malek G. Daher,
Mohamed Nasor,
Moyad Shahwan,
Heba Y. Zahran,
Mahmoud S. Abd El-sadek,
Elbadawy A. Kamoun,
Saleh M. Altarifi,
Mohamed Sh. Abdel-wahab
Affiliations
Samer H. Zyoud
Department of Mathematics and Sciences, Ajman University, Ajman P.O. Box 346, United Arab Emirates
Vanga Ganesh
Laboratory of Nano-Smart Materials for Science and Technology (LNSMST), Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, King Khalid University, P.O. Box 9004, Abha 61421, Saudi Arabia
Che Azurahanim Che Abdullah
Nanomaterial Synthesis and Characterization Laboratory, Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Malaysia
Ibrahim S. Yahia
Center of Medical and Bio-Allied Health Sciences Research (CMBHSR), Ajman University, Ajman P.O. Box 346, United Arab Emirates
Ahed H. Zyoud
Department of Chemistry, SSERL, An-Najah National University, Nablus P.O. Box 7, Palestine
Atef F. I. Abdelkader
Department of Mathematics and Sciences, Ajman University, Ajman P.O. Box 346, United Arab Emirates
Malek G. Daher
Physics Department, Islamic University of Gaza, Gaza P.O. Box 108, Palestine
Mohamed Nasor
Center of Medical and Bio-Allied Health Sciences Research (CMBHSR), Ajman University, Ajman P.O. Box 346, United Arab Emirates
Moyad Shahwan
Center of Medical and Bio-Allied Health Sciences Research (CMBHSR), Ajman University, Ajman P.O. Box 346, United Arab Emirates
Heba Y. Zahran
Laboratory of Nano-Smart Materials for Science and Technology (LNSMST), Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, King Khalid University, P.O. Box 9004, Abha 61421, Saudi Arabia
Mahmoud S. Abd El-sadek
Physics Department, Faculty of Science, Galala University, Galala City 15888, Egypt
Elbadawy A. Kamoun
Polymeric Materials Research Department, Advanced Technology and New Materials Research Institute (ATNMRI), City of Scientific Research and Technological Applications (SRTA-City), New Borg Al-Arab City 21934, Egypt
Saleh M. Altarifi
Department of Physics, College of Science, Qassim University, Buraydah Almolaydah, P.O. Box 6644, Qassim 51452, Saudi Arabia
Mohamed Sh. Abdel-wahab
Materials Science and Nanotechnology Department, Faculty of Postgraduate Studies for Advanced Sciences, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef 62511, Egypt
Pure and Ni-doped (1%, 2%, and 3%) nanostructures were synthesized using a novel laser-assisted chemical bath synthesis (LACBS) technique. For the first time, LACBS was used to create a doping solution utilizing a 7 W blue laser with a 444.4 nm wavelength and a continuous beam. The Ni-doping concentration was varied by changing the amount of Ni precursor added. All samples were analyzed using XRD, SEM, EDX, FTIR, UV–Vis, and photocatalysis tests for photodegradation under blue laser illumination. XRD was used to confirm that the tested ZnO had a hexagonal wurtzite structure. The crystallite size decreased as the Ni-doping concentration rose. EDX experiments were conducted to analyze the elemental characteristics of the pure and Ni-doped (1%, 2%, and 3%) nanostructures. The existence of nanoscale hexagonal structures was confirmed through SEM studies. The band gap values of the pure and Ni-doped ZnO nanostructures decreased as the doping concentration increased. FTIR studies were conducted to examine the functional groups of the pure and doped samples. The produced materials exhibited excellent photocatalytic performance toward the degradation of MB organic dye, an example of a pollutant found in wastewater.
