Comparison of photocatalytic activity of ZnO, Ag-ZnO, Cu-ZnO, Ag, Cu-ZnO and TPPS/ZnO for the degradation of methylene blue under UV and visible light irradiation

Abstract

In this study, zinc oxide and silver and copper-doped zinc oxide nanorods were synthesized by a simple template-free precipitation technique. In addition, meso-tetrakis-(4-sulfonatophenyl) porphyrin (TPPS4) was prepared and immobilized on ZnO nanorods (TPPS/ZnO). The synthesized photocatalysts were characterized by various techniques such as X-ray powder diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, UV-visible spectroscopy, diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, and Fourier transform Infrared spectroscopy. The potential of the obtained photocatalysts in the degradation of methylene blue was investigated under UV and visible light irradiation. The results revealed that the photocatalytic activity of TPPS/ZnO was higher than those of the pure ZnO and doped ZnO under visible light irradiation. HIGHLIGHTS Zinc oxide and silver and copper-doped zinc oxide nanorods were synthesized by a simple template-free precipitation technique.; In addition, TPPS4 was prepared and immobilized on ZnO nanorods.; The potential of the obtained photocatalysts in the degradation of MB was investigated under UV and visible light.; The results revealed that the photocatalytic activity of TPPS/ZnO was higher than those of the pure ZnO and doped ZnO.;

Keywords

• doped zno nanorods
• methylene blue
• photocatalyst
• porphyrin
• tpps4