Zn-doped CdSe nanoparticles: Impact of synthesis conditions on photocatalytic activity

Abstract

Abstract In the present study both undoped CdSe and Zn-doped CdSe nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized by a hydrothermal method previously reported in literature, with slight modification. The synthesized NPs were characterized using XRD and SEM. The SEM picture of undoped CdSe NPs showed sphere-shaped particles with a mean diameter of about 85 nm. All zinc-doped CdSe particles had rod-like structures with an approximate diameter ranging from 46 to 130 nm and a length up to 700 nm, depending on the amount of zinc added during synthesis. The Zn-doped CdSe NPs can catalyze the photodegradation of methylene blue (MB) and moxifloxacin (MOX) under UV illumination. The photocatalytic degradation efficiency of the Zn-doped catalysts showed an enhanced activity that reached up to 93% of MB degradation. The effects of some parameters such as amount of Zn dopant, catalyst loading, pH, reaction time and reaction temperature on the activity of the photocatalysts were also studied using MB solution as a model pollutant. The degradation efficiency of Zn-doped CdSe NPs for MOX was about 81.6% under UV irradiation for 110 min. These results suggest that the Zn-doped CdSe NPs can photocatalyze the degradation of not only MB but also organic micropollutants like MOX under UV irradiation. The Zn-doped NPs can also decompose MB in daylight irradiation with 77.3% efficiency in 90 min which is promising for future application of solar light driven photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants.