Visible Active Silver Sensitized Mixed Phase ZnO Photocatalyst
Abstract
The present work reports synthesis of highly photoactive silver-sensitized mixed phase ZnO nanoparticles. The structural, optical and chemical characterizations of the prepared materials were done using XRD, TEM, UV–DRS, PL and EPR. The photoactivity of the nanoparticles was assessed through photocatalytic degradation kinetics of methylene blue. The rate constant of the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue using silver sensitized mixed phase ZnO was found to be 3.7 and 1.2 times higher than monophasic (wurtzite) ZnO without and with silver sensitization, respectively, under visible light. The increase in the activity is mainly attributed the synergy of the interacting phases at the homojunction and the surface plasmon resonance due to the metallic silver.
Keywords
Photocatalyst, Surface plasmon resonanace, Mixed phase