Recyclable magnetic ZnCo2O4-based ceramic nanostructure materials fabricated by simple sonochemical route for effective sunlight-driven photocatalytic degradation of organic pollution

Abstract

Solar light assisted degradation of unfavorable contaminants has been illustrated to be a very good way to obviate environmental contamination and remedy wastewater. Although a wide range of compounds have been suggested as catalysts for this aim, highly efficient removal of organic contaminants with usage of visible radiation remains a challenging issue. Herein, we represent a novel, fast and proper way to successfully create ZnCo2O4/Co3O4 nanocomposite with usage of the sonochemical process, functioning as a very appropriate compound for the elimination of organic contaminants. As a novel kind of base agent, 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-propanediamine was employed to create ZnCo2O4/Co3O4 nanocomposite. The impacts of usage of diverse capping agents as well as ultrasonic time on the size, catalytic functionality and shape of ZnCo2O4/Co3O4 were considered. Applying diverse detection techniques, the sonochemically created nanocomposite was explored. Based on the outcomes, CTAB was chosen as a very appropriate capping agent as well as 10 min as a very beneficial ultrasonic time to create the tiniest particles possessing the highest uniformity. The created nanocomposites were applied to eliminate unfavorable contaminants (methyl violet, Acid Red 14 and erythrosine) and their capability was compared. The sonochemically created nanocomposite with usage of CTAB at 10 min as optimized sample was able to demonstrate highly efficient performance, since 100, 95.6 and 100% removal of methyl violet, Acid Red 14 and erythrosine in 65 min under visible radiation was observed. Further, the optimized sample possesses very proper durability and can be easily retrieved without appreciable loss of catalytic yield up to eleven runs. Considering its simple fabrication and highly efficient performance, ZnCo2O4/Co3O4 nanocomposite (sonochemically created with usage of CTAB at 10 min) can be a helpful and competitive compound as a visible-light-driven catalyst to obviate environmental contamination.