(369a) Photocatalytic Degradation of Methylene Blue Using Ag/Znfeo Nano-Composites As Photocatalysts

Photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue using Ag/ZnFeO nano-composites as photocatalysts

Asif Mahmood¹, Yousef S. Al-Zaghayer^1,2,Malik AlAhmad¹,and Waheed AlMasry¹

¹College of Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

²Director of Industrial Catalysts Chair, ¹College of Engineering, , King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Ag/ZnFeO nano-composites as photocatalysts have been synthesized via self-consistent sol–gel based auto-combustion route. The fabricated samples were confirmed to exhibit wurtzite type hexagonal structure, characteristic of ZnO. The nature of chemical bonding was elaborated by Fourier transform analysis. Electron microscopic techniques were employed to investigate the structural morphology and to evaluate the particle size. Ferromagnetic nature of the Fe/Ag doped samples was revealed by vibrating sample magnetometry, enabling the photocatalytic samples to be re-collected magnetically for repeated usage. The enhanced photocatalytic activity in the degradation of methylene blue under UV light irradiation has been observed validating the potential applications of these materials in the field of photo-degradation of organic pollutants.

Keywords: Ag doping, dye degradation, Photocatalyst, UV light