Fabricating core-shell of silane modified nano ZnO; Effects on photocatalytic degradation of benzene in air using acrylic nanocomposite

Abstract

In this work, ZnO nanoparticles were surface modified using bis-(triethoxysilylpropyl)amine (BTPA) at different silane concentrations and applied as photocatalyst to water based acrylic film to degrade benzene in gaseous phase under UV/Vis lights. The pure and modified nanoparticles were characterized using FTIR, TGA, BET, XRD, XPS, I-V, photocurrent response and photoluminescence analysis. The results showed that the band gap of the nanoparticles decreased from 3.21 to 2.98 eV and the specific surface area increased by silanization at silane stoichiometric concentration (1X). The mechanical properties of the pure and modified ZnO containing acrylic nanocomposites were investigated. The results showed that addition of the modified nanoparticles (at 3 wt%) to the acrylic matrix increased the tensile strength by 197.9 and 123.3% and modulus by about 288.8 and 185.7% compared to the pristine and pure nanoparticle containing acrylic films. It was found that using silanized nanoparticles in acrylic film increased photocatalytic degradation of benzene in gaseous phase by about 20% compared to the pure nano ZnO containing nanocomposite. The benzene removal efficiency of about 97.28 and 85.39% was obtained for the modified acrylic nanocomposites (at 3 wt% photocatalyst loading content) under UV and visible light irradiations, respectively.