Effect of Ag Doping on ZnO/V₂O₅ Nanoparticles as a Photo Catalyst for the Removal of Maxillion Blue (GRL) Dye

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Refaas, Ahmed Mesehour Ali^; | AL-Robayi, Enas M. | Alkaim, Ayad F.^{; *}

Affiliations: Department of Physics, College of Science, University of Babylon, Iraq | Ministry of Education, Al-Muthana, Iraq | Department of Physics, College of Science for Women, University of Babylon, Babylon, Iraq | Department of Chemistry, College of Science for Women, University of Babylon, Babylon, Iraq

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding Author. [email protected]

Abstract: In this research, the photo catalytic degradation of textile dyes as a model Maxillion Blue (GRL) dye by using Ag/ZnO/V2O5 nanocomposites synthesised via hydrothermal method. The physical properties of the as-synthesised nanocomposites were examined using characterisation techniques such as scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), TEM, and UV-vis spectroscopy. the production of pure ZnO, V2O5 nanoparticles and the discovery, by XRD analysis, of diffraction peaks related to the hexagonal phase of ZnO, V2O5, UV-vis spectroscopic calculations of the nanocomposite’s energy bandgap (2.63 eV) indicated that it might function as a photo catalyst when exposed to UV-visible light. XRD also supported the fabrication of the ZnO/V2O5 nanocomposite. FE-SEM images showed that the object was spherical and somewhat hexagonal in form. EDX analysis reveals the presence of Zn, V, and O in the nanocomposite; its photocatalytic activity was evaluated through the degradation of GRL dye under exposure to solar light. The results showed that the optimum mass nanocomposite for efficient photo degradation was 0.4 g/L, with a degradation efficiency of 91.6%.

Keywords: Textile dyes, zinc oxide, maxillion blue (GRL), hydrothermal, photo catalyst, nanoparticles

DOI: 10.3233/AJW230062

Journal: Asian Journal of Water, Environment and Pollution, vol. 20, no. 5, pp. 25-31, 2023