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Enhanced ultraviolet photocatalytic activity of Ag/ZnO nanoparticles synthesized by modified polymer-network gel method

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Abstract

Ag/ZnO nanoparticle (NP) heterostructures are synthesized through a modified polymer-network gel method in which glucose is added to the precursor solution to prevent the gel from drastically shrinking during drying of the aqueous solution. Structural and optical properties of the samples are characterized by a range of techniques including XRD, SEM, TEM, XPS, UV–Vis, and PL. The high-quality Ag-ZnO heterostructure is evidenced clearly by high-resolution TEM. The Ag/ZnO heterostructure nanocomposites exhibit a higher photocatalytic activity in the degradation of methyl orange than pure ZnO. Especially, Ag/ZnO NP heterostructures with the Ag/Zn molar ratio of 5:95 (sample ZA-5) show the highest degradation efficiency, which is 11 times higher compared with pure ZnO. The photoluminescence properties of the heterostructures and O defect states are studied to well explain the observed photocatalytic effects. ZA-5 also exhibits competitive photocatalytic activity for the degradation of other pollutant dyes such as Methylene blue and Rhodamine B compared with the recently reported techniques, while showing excellent catalyst photostability as well as offering simplicity and reliability.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to acknowledge the support by Sichuan Province academic and technical leader training fund (Grant No. 25727502) and the Subject Construction Funds of Southwest University for Nationalities (Grant No. 2015XWD-S0805), China. K. O. was partially supported by the Australian Research Council and CSIRO’s Science Leadership Program. Assistance of S. Pineda in discussing and editing the manuscript is appreciated.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Information Materials of Sichuan Province, School of Electrical and Information Engineering, Southwest University for Nationalities, Chengdu, 610041, China

    Y. H. Lu, M. Xu, C. L. Zhang, Q. P. Zhang & X. N. Xu

  2. Plasma Sources and Applications Center, NIE, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, 637616, Singapore

    L. X. Xu & S. Xu

  3. Institute for Future Environments and School of Chemistry, Physics, and Mechanical Engineering, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, 4000, Australia

    K. Ostrikov

  4. Plasma Nanoscience Laboratories, Industrial Innovation Program, Manufacturing Flagship, CSIRO, P. O. Box 218, Lindfield, NSW, 2070, Australia

    K. Ostrikov

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  1. Y. H. Lu
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  2. M. Xu
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  3. L. X. Xu
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  4. C. L. Zhang
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  5. Q. P. Zhang
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  6. X. N. Xu
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  7. S. Xu
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  8. K. Ostrikov
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Correspondence to M. Xu or K. Ostrikov.

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Lu, Y.H., Xu, M., Xu, L.X. et al. Enhanced ultraviolet photocatalytic activity of Ag/ZnO nanoparticles synthesized by modified polymer-network gel method. J Nanopart Res 17, 350 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-015-3150-y

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