Loading effect of Ag/AgO on the photocatalytic performance of ZnO rods

• Published in: Applied physics. A, Materials science & processing Materials science & processing, 2017, Vol.123 (1), p.1-12, Article 101
• Main Authors: Samsuddin, Aida Fitri, Aziz, Siti Nor Qurratu Aini Abd, Pung, Swee-Yong
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied physics; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Condensed Matter Physics; Dyes; Free radicals; Machines; Manufacturing; Materials science; Nanotechnology; Optical and Electronic Materials; Photodegradation; Physics; Physics and Astronomy; Processes; Rhodamine; Rods; Silver nitrate; Surfaces and Interfaces; Thin Films; Ultraviolet radiation; Zinc oxide
• ISSN: 0947-8396; 1432-0630
• DOI: 10.1007/s00339-016-0699-y

The photocatalytic performance of ZnO rods in degradation of Rhodamine B dye under UV light was improved by 7.3% via deposition of Ag/AgO using 1.0 × 10 −3  g mL −1 of silver nitrate solution. However, its photodegradation efficiency decreased with the increase in silver nitrate concentration which was used to prepare the Ag/AgO–ZnO rods. This result suggests that the loading of Ag/AgO on the surface of ZnO rods affected the photocatalytic performance differently. The scavenger study indicates that the main reactive species responsible for the degradation of Rhodamine B dye by Ag-/AgO-deposited ZnO rods were holes, followed by superoxide anion free radicals, hydroxyl free radicals and electrons. Based on these findings, a refined photodegradation mechanism of Rhodamine B by Ag/AgO–ZnO rods is proposed.