Abstract
In this work, a novel route is discussed to produce in one step ZnO/Burkeite powders by the modified solution combustion method. The ZnO particles enhance the photocatalytic activity in the degradation of Rhodamine B, in which Burkeite mineral acts as a support due to the pH-dependent morphology of the particle aggregates of the as-synthesized powders. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) characterization shows the presence of a heterostructure: ZnO/Burkeite. The Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) image shows a morphological dependence with the pH of the solution used for the synthesis. The results show that the system with the highest degradation (92.4%) corresponds to the case in which ZnO/Burkeite heterostructure was synthesized with a pH 11.
Highlights
The severe environmental impact caused by climate change and pollution, as well as the dependence on non-renewable energy sources for the development of society, are part of the significant challenges for humanity [1]
This paper aims to report the synthesis in one step and photocatalytic activity of ZnO/Burkeite heterostructure powders, using the modified solution combustion method obtaining the Zn(OH)2 from ZnSO4 using NaOH as a pH modifier
The diffractograms indicate the synthesis of ZnO in the hexagonal phase according to the datasheet PDF 05-0664
Summary
The severe environmental impact caused by climate change and pollution, as well as the dependence on non-renewable energy sources for the development of society, are part of the significant challenges for humanity [1]. Semiconductor-based photocatalysis has already demonstrated its efficiency in terms of degradation on a wide range of organic pollutants present in water [2]; it can be used for air purification, CO2 reduction, H2 production, biodiesel production, and organic compounds synthesis [3,4]. Zinc oxide has been one of the most commonly used semiconductor oxides as a photocatalyst, possessing outstanding properties such as high physical and chemical stability, excellent efficiency, Catalysts 2019, 9, 817; doi:10.3390/catal9100817 www.mdpi.com/journal/catalysts. The use of a ZnO suspension hinders the recovery of this photocatalyst For this reason, many researchers propose the use of a support with characteristics such as high surface area, excellent chemical and physical stability, and that it has a role as an anchoring media [6,7]
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