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Photocatalytic activities enhancement of manganese doped ZnO by decoration on CNT for degradation of organic pollutants under solar irradiation

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Abstract

Globally untreated industrial wastewaters such as organic chemicals have contaminated soil, surface water, groundwater, and consequently the environment. Therefore, this study aimed to develop an efficient removal method using photocatalytic advanced oxidation processes under visible light of 47% of solar irradiation. A simultaneous synthesis of manganese doped zinc oxide (Mn doped ZnO) decorated on carbon nanotubes (CNT) was carried out using sol–gel method. The characterization results of XRD, FT-IR, FESEM, and TEM showed manganese doped zinc oxide was successfully synthesized and decorated on CNT. The synthesized photocatalyst was used for the degradation of methyl orange (MO) as a model of the environmental organic pollutants. Mn doped ZnO decorated on CNT bleached MO much faster than undoped ZnO and Mn doped ZnO upon its exposure to the visible light. The CNT enhanced photocatalytic activity of Mn-ZnO by increasing the surface area, distributing charge carriers, preventing agglomeration, as well as improving the active sites and oxygen adsorption in the suspension. This study demonstrates Mn-ZnO/CNT as a promising degradation agent for the organic pollutants. Future studies should be conducted to explore possible applications of this photocatalyst in the field of environmental science.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge Universiti Malaya under Universiti Malaya Research Grant HIR MoHE (UM.C/625/1/HIR/MOHE/SC/04) and Postgraduate Research Fund (PG105-2015B) for their funding supports. The authors extend their appreciation to Universiti Malaya Centre of Ionic Liquids (UMCiL) for providing the facilities.

Funding

Funding was provided by institut pengurusan dan pemantauan penyelidikan, universiti malaya, (UM.C/625/1/HIR/MOHE/SC/04) and universiti malaya (PG105-2015B, NOR ASRINA SAIRI).

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  1. Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

    Norfarhanah Ab Wahab, Nor Asrina Sairi & Yatimah Alias

  2. Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya Centre for Ionic Liquids, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

    Norfarhanah Ab Wahab, Nor Asrina Sairi & Yatimah Alias

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Ab Wahab, N., Sairi, N.A. & Alias, Y. Photocatalytic activities enhancement of manganese doped ZnO by decoration on CNT for degradation of organic pollutants under solar irradiation. Appl. Phys. A 128, 59 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-021-05160-x

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