Fabrication and Characterization of Activated Carbon/ZnO Nanocomposite Films for Use as a Photocatalyst in Degradation of Organic Compounds

Abstract

The activated carbon/ZnO nanocomposite films were successfully prepared by a simple doctor blade method. The obtained films were characterised by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy and Photoluminescence techniques. The photocatalytic properties of all films were carried out by degrading rhodamine B (RhB) dye under solar light irradiation. From the study, it was found that an increment of the efficacy of photocatalytic activities showed in activated carbon/ZnO nanocomposite films as compared to the pure activated carbon and pure ZnO. Moreover, the effect of concentration of activated carbon on the photocatalytic activity of as-prepared nanocomposite films was studied. Results were found that the optimal concentration of 5 wt% activated carbon on the surface of ZnO exhibited the highest efficiency.