Development of Ag_0.04ZrO₂/rGO heterojunction, as an efficient visible light photocatalyst for degradation of methyl orange.

ABSTRACT: Methyl orange (MO) is mutagenic, poisonous, and carcinogenic in nature, hence, effective methods are required for its degradation. We have synthesized pure ZrO₂, Ag-doped ZrO_2, and Ag-doped ZrO₂/rGO as hybrid photocatalysts by facile hydrothermal method. These photocatalysts were characterized by powder XRD, scanning electron microscopy, EDX, FTIR, photoluminescence, UV-Vis diffuse reflectance (DRS), and Raman spectroscopy. The photodegradation of MO (10 ppm) was studied with pure ZrO₂, Ag-doped ZrO_2, and Ag-doped ZrO₂/rGO (10 mg/100 mL catalyst dosage) photocatalysts at 100 min irradiation time under UV-Visible light. The pH effect and catalyst dosage on photodegradation of MO was investigated. Ag_0.04ZrO₂/rGO photocatalyst exhibited the maximum photocatalytic degradation of MO (87%) as compared to Ag_0.04ZrO₂ (60%) and pure ZrO₂ (26%). Reusability experiments ensured the excellent stability of photocatalyst after five consecutive experiments. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the facile hydrothermal synthesis of Ag_0.04ZrO₂/rGO photocatalyst for photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange.

SUBMITTER: Iqbal RMA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9296493 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature