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Facile and green synthesis of a ZnO/CQDs/AgNPs ternary heterostructure photocatalyst: study of the methylene blue dye photodegradation

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Abstract

A photocatalyst based on a ZnO/CQDs/AgNPs ternary heterostructure was synthesized by a green and easy in-situ hydrothermal method. The carbon quantum dots (CQDs) were used in order to reduce AgNO3 to form silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). The as-prepared photocatalyst was characterized by different techniques such as X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Bruner–Emmett–Teller. The optical properties of the nanocomposites were examined using UV–visible spectrophotometer. The photocatalytic activity of ZnO/CQDs/AgNPs was evaluated by degradation of methylene blue (MB) under UV light irradiation. The ternary heterostructure exhibits higher photocatalytic activity compared to pure ZnO, ZnO/CQDs and ZnO/Ag. It was found that a degradation of 98.6% of MB was achieved within 50 min of UV light irradiation. Finally, a possible mechanism is proposed to explain the photodegradation of MB by this nanocomposite.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by Mouloud Mammeri University. We gratefully acknowledge Thierry Dintzer, Vasiliki Papa Efthimiou, Sebastien Thoma and Cécile Roger of (ICPEES) Strasbourg University, to have performed the XPS and MEB-EDX characterizations.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Applied Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Science, University of Mouloud Mammeri of Tizi-Ouzou, 15000, Tizi-Ouzou, Algeria

    Hakima Bozetine, Smail Meziane, Sabrina Aziri, Nabila Berkane & Djaouida Allam

  2. Physical Chemistry and Materials Chemistry Laboratory, University of Mouloud Mammeri of Tizi-Ouzou, 15000, Tizi-Ouzou, Algeria

    Salem Boudinar

  3. Research Center in Semiconductor Technology for Energy (CRTSE), 16000, Algiers, Algeria

    Toufik Hadjersi

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  1. Hakima Bozetine
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  2. Smail Meziane
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  3. Sabrina Aziri
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  4. Nabila Berkane
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  5. Djaouida Allam
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Correspondence to Hakima Bozetine.

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Bozetine, H., Meziane, S., Aziri, S. et al. Facile and green synthesis of a ZnO/CQDs/AgNPs ternary heterostructure photocatalyst: study of the methylene blue dye photodegradation. Bull Mater Sci 44, 64 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12034-021-02353-1

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