Enhancement of photocatalytic activity of ZrO2 nanoparticles by doping with Mg for UV light photocatalytic degradation of methyl violet and methyl blue dyes

• Published in: Journal of materials science. Materials in electronics 2020-03, Vol.31 (5), p.4058-4072
• Main Authors: Rajesh, G., Akilandeswari, S., Govindarajan, D., Thirumalai, K.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agglomerated defects; Catalytic activity; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry and Materials Science; Crystal defects; Crystal structure; Dyes; Irradiation; Materials Science; Morphology; Nanoparticles; Optical and Electronic Materials; Photocatalysis; Photodegradation; Surface defects; Ultraviolet radiation; Zirconium dioxide
• ISSN: 0957-4522; 1573-482X
• DOI: 10.1007/s10854-020-02953-3

In this study, pristine ZrO 2 (600 °C) and Mg (0.02, 0.04, 0.06, 0.08 M)-doped ZrO 2 nanoparticles were effectively synthesized at about 10 nm size and achieved complete degradation of methyl violet and methyl blue dyes under UV irradiation. The calcined products were analyzed by XRD, FTIR, UV-DRS, PL, FESEM-EDX, TEM-SAED pattern and XPS techniques. The tetragonal crystal structure of the pristine ZrO 2 and Mg (0.02–0.08 M)-doped ZrO 2 nanoparticles were affirmed by XRD analysis. The Mg (0.08 M)-doped ZrO 2 nanoparticles were approximately in quasi-spherical morphology and high agglomeration was confirmed by FESEM and TEM results. The surface defects and oxygen vacancies were analyzed by PL spectroscopy. The Mg (0.08 M)-doped ZrO 2 nanoparticles exhibited enlarged photocatalytic activity with 94% and 90% degradation of methyl violet and methyl blue dyes under UV irradiation.