Methylene Blue Photodegradation under Visible Irradiation on Ag-Doped ZnO Thin Films

This study synthesized and characterized Ag-doped ZnO thin films. Doped ZnO powders were synthesized using the sol-gel method, and thin films were fabricated using the doctor blade technique. The Ag content was determined by optical emission spectrometers with inductively coupled plasma (ICP plasma)...

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Main Authors: William Vallejo, Alvaro Cantillo, Carlos Díaz-Uribe
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2020-01-01
Series:International Journal of Photoenergy
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2020/1627498
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author William Vallejo
Alvaro Cantillo
Carlos Díaz-Uribe
author_facet William Vallejo
Alvaro Cantillo
Carlos Díaz-Uribe
author_sort William Vallejo
collection DOAJ
description This study synthesized and characterized Ag-doped ZnO thin films. Doped ZnO powders were synthesized using the sol-gel method, and thin films were fabricated using the doctor blade technique. The Ag content was determined by optical emission spectrometers with inductively coupled plasma (ICP plasma). Additionally, X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), diffuse reflectance, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) measurements were used for physicochemical characterization. Finally, the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB) was studied under visible irradiation in aqueous solution. The Langmuir-Hinshelwood model was used to determine the reaction rate constant of the photocatalytic degradation. The physicochemical characterization showed that the samples were polycrystalline, and the diffraction signals corresponded to the ZnO wurtzite crystalline phase. Raman spectroscopy verified the ZnO doping process. The AFM analysis showed that roughness and grain size were reduced after the doping process. Furthermore, the optical results indicated that the presence of Ag improved the ZnO optical properties in the visible range, and the Ag-doped ZnO thin films had the lowest band gap value (2.95 eV). Finally, the photocatalytic degradation results indicated that the doping process enhanced the photocatalytic activity under visible irradiation, and the Ag-doped ZnO thin films had the highest MB photodegradation value (45.1%), as compared to that of the ZnO thin films (2.7%).
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series International Journal of Photoenergy
spelling doaj-art-187aa0ca7ab8447594cbcb01ddcb64492025-08-20T02:02:13ZengWileyInternational Journal of Photoenergy1110-662X1687-529X2020-01-01202010.1155/2020/16274981627498Methylene Blue Photodegradation under Visible Irradiation on Ag-Doped ZnO Thin FilmsWilliam Vallejo0Alvaro Cantillo1Carlos Díaz-Uribe2Grupo de Fotoquímica y Fotobiología, Facultad de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad del Atlántico, 081007 Puerto Colombia, ColombiaGrupo de Fotoquímica y Fotobiología, Facultad de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad del Atlántico, 081007 Puerto Colombia, ColombiaGrupo de Fotoquímica y Fotobiología, Facultad de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad del Atlántico, 081007 Puerto Colombia, ColombiaThis study synthesized and characterized Ag-doped ZnO thin films. Doped ZnO powders were synthesized using the sol-gel method, and thin films were fabricated using the doctor blade technique. The Ag content was determined by optical emission spectrometers with inductively coupled plasma (ICP plasma). Additionally, X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), diffuse reflectance, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) measurements were used for physicochemical characterization. Finally, the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB) was studied under visible irradiation in aqueous solution. The Langmuir-Hinshelwood model was used to determine the reaction rate constant of the photocatalytic degradation. The physicochemical characterization showed that the samples were polycrystalline, and the diffraction signals corresponded to the ZnO wurtzite crystalline phase. Raman spectroscopy verified the ZnO doping process. The AFM analysis showed that roughness and grain size were reduced after the doping process. Furthermore, the optical results indicated that the presence of Ag improved the ZnO optical properties in the visible range, and the Ag-doped ZnO thin films had the lowest band gap value (2.95 eV). Finally, the photocatalytic degradation results indicated that the doping process enhanced the photocatalytic activity under visible irradiation, and the Ag-doped ZnO thin films had the highest MB photodegradation value (45.1%), as compared to that of the ZnO thin films (2.7%).http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2020/1627498
spellingShingle William Vallejo
Alvaro Cantillo
Carlos Díaz-Uribe
Methylene Blue Photodegradation under Visible Irradiation on Ag-Doped ZnO Thin Films
International Journal of Photoenergy
title Methylene Blue Photodegradation under Visible Irradiation on Ag-Doped ZnO Thin Films
title_full Methylene Blue Photodegradation under Visible Irradiation on Ag-Doped ZnO Thin Films
title_fullStr Methylene Blue Photodegradation under Visible Irradiation on Ag-Doped ZnO Thin Films
title_full_unstemmed Methylene Blue Photodegradation under Visible Irradiation on Ag-Doped ZnO Thin Films
title_short Methylene Blue Photodegradation under Visible Irradiation on Ag-Doped ZnO Thin Films
title_sort methylene blue photodegradation under visible irradiation on ag doped zno thin films
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2020/1627498
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AT alvarocantillo methylenebluephotodegradationundervisibleirradiationonagdopedznothinfilms
AT carlosdiazuribe methylenebluephotodegradationundervisibleirradiationonagdopedznothinfilms