In situ synthesis of Al sub(2)O sub(3)-supported ZnCr sub(2)O sub(4) nanoparticles for application as an activated photocatalyst

Zincochromite nanoparticles (NPs) were precipitated on surfaces of the as-prepared Al sub(2)O sub(3) micron-sized particles by a heterogeneous precipitation technique using urea as a homogeneous precipitation agent. This procedure leads to decrease the pore diameter and increase the pore volume and...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of applied ceramic technology 2017-03, Vol.14 (2), p.173-184
Main Authors: Tajizadegan, Hamid, Naghibi, Sanaz, Jamshidi, Amin, Torabi, Omid, Golabgir, Mohammad-Hossein
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Absorbance
Catalysis
Catalysts
Nanoparticles
Particulate composites
Photocatalysis
Photocatalysts
Scanning electron microscopy
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Summary:Zincochromite nanoparticles (NPs) were precipitated on surfaces of the as-prepared Al sub(2)O sub(3) micron-sized particles by a heterogeneous precipitation technique using urea as a homogeneous precipitation agent. This procedure leads to decrease the pore diameter and increase the pore volume and specific surface area (a sub()s, realizing the potential access to ZnCr sub(2)O sub(4) catalytic sites. Although the obtained band gap energy (E sub(g)) of Al sub(2)O sub(3)-ZnCr sub( 2)O sub(4) composite is about 2.3 eV (more than ZnCr sub(2)O sub(4)), the absorbance is enhanced about 1.5 orders of magnitude. These characteristics make it an effective photocatalyst of inorganic dyes from an aqueous media. Dye removal performance of the nanocomposite powder is higher than that of pure ZnCr sub(2)O sub(4), which is attributed to an increase in the photocatalytic sites and the absorbance intensity. It was believed that the surface area created from Al sub(2)O sub(3) support realized the potential access to ZnCr sub(2)O sub(4) catalytic sites. To confirm these assertions, X-ray diffractometry (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), and N sub(2) adsorption-desorption analysis were applied.
ISSN:1546-542X
1744-7402
DOI:10.1111/ijac.12623