Advancing photocatalysis: Innovative approaches using novel V2O5/ZnO nanocomposites for efficient photocatalytic degradation of tubantin red

Abstract

Photocatalytic response of V2O5, ZnO, and V2O5/ZnO nanostructures for the degradation of Tubantin red 8BL dye has been reported. Pure V2O5, ZnO, and V2O5/ZnO composite nanostructures were synthesized through a hydrothermal method. UV–Visible spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray microscopy (EDX), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) characterizations were done to examine their bandgap energy (Eg), morphology, composition, and structure, respectively. These discoveries advance our knowledge of the agglomerated nanoparticles of V2O5, ZnO, and V2O5/ZnO for their prospective photocatalytic uses. The presence of V2O5 and ZnO in composite is confirmed through the analysis of FTIR. Flower shaped morphology was observed in V2O5/ZnO nanocomposite by SEM. The 2.83 eV bandgap energy was observed in composite. The nanocomposite was evaluated for Tubantin red 8BL photodegradation. The efficiencies of pure ZnO nanoparticles after 25 min, 50 min, 75 min, 100 min, 125 min, and 150 min irradiation are 54.54 %, 58.00 %, 61.41 %, 63.84 %, 71.19 %, and 78.53 %; for pure V2O5 nanoparticles, they are 72.72 %, 76.45 %, 80.85 %, 85.42 %, 89.99 %, and 94.32 %. Similarly, the efficiencies (%) of V2O5/ZnO composite nanoparticles are 45.10 %, 53.27 %, 60.75 %, 68.24 %, 79.99 %, 91.74 %, and 99.79 %, respectively. Reusability studies (three cycles) were used to further confirm the photocatalytic efficiency, and the findings of the subsequent characterization revealed an arrangement of crystalline layers which is the cause of the high efficiency. These nanostructures also demonstrated stability across three cycles, suggesting more photocatalytic uses for them in the future.