Synthesis, characterization of Gd-doped ZnO nanocrystals and their photocatalytic activity in the degradation of C.I. Acid Red 18

Abstract

In this study, ZnO and Gd doped ZnO with various weight percentages (1, 2, 3, and 4 wt% Gd calcined at 450 °C and 2 wt% Gd doped ZnO calcined at 450, 550, 650, and 750 °C) have been prepared. XRD, TEM, DRS, PL measurements, EDX, and FTIR were used for the characterization of the as-prepared photocatalysts. The photocatalytic activity of the as-synthesized ZnO and Gd-doped ZnO products was assessed by AR18 as a model of textile contaminants degraded in water under UV radiation. The effect of operating parameters such as pH, contact time, the initial dye concentration, and the influence of different contents of gadolinium doping and analysis were estimated. We use some active species such as ethanol, K2Cr2O7, KI, and Oxalate to find the photocatalyst and the formation of the electron-hole mechanism of Gd-doped ZnO. After 40 min, the catalyst calcined at 450°C (at pH = 5.0, [AR18] = 1.0 × 10−5M)showed the highest efficiency (98.28 %). The amount of COD decrease after 40 min of irradiation is 98.6 %.