Highly efficient Ag2O loaded ZnO/Al2O3 coupled catalyst and its photocatalytic application

Abstract The scientific community is interested in designing the ideal semiconductor nanomaterials and improving the potential of existing nanomaterials for the purification of the ecosystem. In this study, efforts were made to enhance the photocatalytic properties of earlier reported ZnO/Al2O3 binary system, by integrating with the Ag2O. This three-component system showed excellent photocatalytic properties in shorter times compared to the binary system. Two model pollutants utilized for analysis of the photocatalytic activity are Cibacron Red (CR) dye and Triclopyr (TC) pesticide. The effect of Ag2O integration on morphology, crystallinity, chemical state, and optical properties has been investigated by utilizing the FESEM, XRD, XPS, EDS, HRTEM, and UV-DRS techniques. The characterization results advocate that nanomaterials are well-crystalline, thermally stable, and porous. The results of the current study showed that the Ag2O@ZnO/Al2O3 sample consist of 7 wt% silver dosage, demonstrates the highest activity towards the photo-removal of both model pollutants under UV illumination. The outcome of the study emphasizes that the formation of this three-component nano-heterojunctions between Ag2O@ZnO/Al2O3 improves the charge separation efficiency and reduces the chances of recombination. The probable mechanism of photodegradation responsible for this improvement is also discussed.