Transition metal ions (Co and Cr) doped ZnO nanoparticles supported on natural zeolite were synthesized using co-precipitation method. The synthesized samples were characterized by means of X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive X-ray, Fourier-transform infrared absorption, and UV-visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The samples were further used as photocatalyst for degradation of methyl orange and methylene blue in aqueous solutions under UV light irradiation. The results showed that zeolite supported Cr-doped ZnO nanoparticles is more efficient compared with zeolite supported Co-doped ZnO nanoparticles. It is also revealed that zeolite supported samples possessed higher photocatalytic efficiency compared to bare samples.
The co-effect of PO43- and I- on the formation of a heterosturucture photocatalyst in the Ag3PO4-AgI system was studied by the co-precipitation method between AgNO3 and the precipitating agent. The precipitating agent was prepared by varying the mole ratios between Na2HPO4 and KI. At 10 mol.% KI, the product showed the mixed phase between Ag3PO4 and un-identified phase. For 30 - 90 mol.% KI, the un-identified phase and AgI were detected in the x-ray diffraction patterns. The un-identified phase strongly adsorbed the methylene blue dye. The product prepared from 30 mol.% KI had the highest content of un-identified phase and also showed the highest degree of decolorization in the dark. The photocatalytic properties of products in this system were confirmed by the decolorization of methylene blue under visible illumination.
The layered double hydroxides (LDHs) with different divalent transition metal groups and nitrate as a counter anion were investigated. Three d-block divalent metals namely cobalt (Co), nickel (Ni) and copper (Cu) were selected. The cobalt/aluminium (CoAN)-, nickel/aluminium (NiAN)- and copper/aluminium (CuAN)-layered double hydroxides were successfully synthesized via co-precipitation method. All the obtained LDHs were characterized by PXRD, FT-IR, ICP-OES, CHNS and TGA/DTG analysis. Interestingly, behavior of the LDHs was dependent on the size of divalent cations. PXRD showed the basal spacing decrease in the order NiAN (0.88nm)> CuAN (0.87nm) > CoAN (0.74nm), and in a linear correlation with the increasing radii of the divalent cations. Similar trend is observed for the weight loss of LDHs, where NiAN has the highest weight loss (53%), followed by CuAN (43%) and CoAN (34%). Further elemental analysis showed the content of trivalent metal cations, nitrate anions and water molecules in the LDHs decrease with the increasing radii.
Application of Experimental Design to Optimize the Morphological Nature of Synthesized Transition Metal Oxide Nanoparticles by Co – Precipitation method using PVP as Optimizer