ZnYbAgO nanoparticles for the photocatalytic degradation

Abstract

The co-precipitation technique was used to produce Zn1-x-yYbxAgyO nanomaterials. The Zn1-x-yYbxAgyO nanomaterials have higher photocatalytic activity compared to ZnO, owing to their exceptional optical and electrical characteristics. The results demonstrate that the Zn0.096Yb0.02Ag0.02O nanoparticles are capable of decomposing 98.2 % of RhB dye after 15 min by photodegradation. Moreover, studies have shown that superoxide radicals actively participate in the process of photodegradation.

Keywords

• Yb,Ag) co-doped ZnO
• Co-precipitation
• Light absorption
• Nanophotocatalyst