Synthesis and Characterization of N- Doped ZnO-γAl2O3 Nanoparticles for Photo-catalytic Application

Abstract

Abstract In this study, photo-catalytic degradation of methyl orange (MO) azo dye was examined by undoped and Ce2O3/ CuO/ N doped ZnO nanoparticles stabilized on γAl2O3. Highest photo-catalytic activity was observed for the N-doped 10 wt. % ZnO-γAl2O3 sample. One of the optimal points with the complete MO decomposition was determined at an initial concentration of 8.25 ppm, pH 3.25, catalyst loading of 0.36 g/L and 12.56 W UV-light irradiation after 120 min. Physical and chemical properties of materials were investigated by X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) and UV–visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) method. The experimental data were best fitted by a Langmuir-Hinshelwood approach photo-catalysis developed kinetic reaction rate in the form of − r = 0.2797 I 0.5 [ C a t . ] 0.5 [ D y e ] / 1 + 0.1079 [ D y e ] 0 + 0.4086 I 0.5 [ C a t . ] 0.5 $- r = 0.2797\, {I^{0.5}}\, {[Cat.]^{0.5}}\, \, [Dye]{\text{ }}/\, \, \, 1 + 0.1079\, {[Dye]_0}\, + \, 0.4086\, {I^{0.5}}\, {[Cat.]^{0.5}}$ .