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Activated carbon doped WO3 for photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine-B

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Abstract

In this research work, tungsten trioxide (WO3) and activated doped WO3 composites were prepared for the photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine-B. Activated carbon was prepared by waste sugarcane burgesses, tungsten trioxide (WO3) was synthesized by precursor sodium tungstate dihydrate (Na2WO4·2H2O) using hydrothermal method. To study the morphology, functional groups, band gap, purity and optical properties of the prepared catalyst SEM, FTIR, PL and UV–Vis spectroscopy were used. SEM micrograph shows that tungsten trioxide has nanocubic rods-like structure with size 50–500 nm. Morphological results showed that nano rods become sharper when activated carbon were added in WO3. The average nanorods have average size 20–250 nm which is very efficient for degradation. UV–Vis spectroscopy shows that band gap of the fabricated catalyst changes from 2.76 to 2.26 eV by varying the concentration ratio of the activated carbon. FTIR analysis the functional groups of the prepared catalyst. PL-spectroscopy determined that the maximum excitation wavelength was 446 nm. Photocatalytic results show that 2% activated carbon doped WO3 composite shows the maximum degradation rate as compare to the other prepared catalyst. Synthesized catalysts are environment friendly, cost effective and due to low band gap very useful for the degradation purpose.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, Faculty of Sciences, University of Gujrat, Hafiz Hayat Campus, Gujrat, 50700, Pakistan

    Muhammad Bilal Tahir, Maria Ashraf, Muhammad Rafique, Mohsin Ijaz, Sohail Firman & Iqra Mubeen

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  1. Muhammad Bilal Tahir
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  2. Maria Ashraf
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  3. Muhammad Rafique
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  4. Mohsin Ijaz
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  5. Sohail Firman
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  6. Iqra Mubeen
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Correspondence to Muhammad Bilal Tahir or Mohsin Ijaz.

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Tahir, M.B., Ashraf, M., Rafique, M. et al. Activated carbon doped WO3 for photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine-B. Appl Nanosci 10, 869–877 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13204-019-01141-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13204-019-01141-y

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