Comparative Study on the Influence of Noble Metal Nanoparticles (Ag, Au, Pd) on the Photocatalytic Activity of ZnO NPs Embedded in Renewable Castor Oil Polymer Matrices

Hybrid polymeric materials, due to the unique combination of properties that can be obtained by the convenient variation of organic and inorganic components, represent an attractive alternative for many applications, especially photocatalysis. Herein, we report the preparation of nanocomposite films...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Materials 2020-08, Vol.13 (16), p.3468
Main Authors: Chibac-Scutaru, Andreea L., Podasca, Viorica, Timpu, Daniel, Melinte, Violeta
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Castor oil
Catalytic activity
Comparative studies
Dyes
Electron microscopy
Fourier transforms
Gold
Infrared analysis
Light
Light irradiation
Nanocomposites
Nanoparticles
NMR
Noble metals
Nuclear magnetic resonance
Palladium
Photocatalysis
Photopolymerization
Pollutants
Pollution monitoring
Polymer matrix composites
Polypropylene glycol
Silver
Spectrum analysis
Thermogravimetric analysis
Zinc oxide
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Summary:Hybrid polymeric materials, due to the unique combination of properties that can be obtained by the convenient variation of organic and inorganic components, represent an attractive alternative for many applications, especially photocatalysis. Herein, we report the preparation of nanocomposite films containing functionalized ZnO nanoparticles, as well as in situ photogenerated noble metal nanoparticles (Ag, Au, Pd), for the achieving of materials with enhanced photocatalytic activity under visible light. The flexible free-standing nanocomposite films were synthesized by photopolymerization of a monomer mixture (silane castor oil urethane dimethacrylate and polypropylene oxide urethane dimethacrylate) in the presence of a Irgacure 819 photoinitiator. The efficiency of ZnO NPs functionalization was established by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and thermogravimetric analysis, while the polymer composites were characterized by UV-Vis spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy to evidence the formation, size and distribution of the nanoparticles inside the photocrosslinked matrix. To establish the photocatalytic capacity of nanocomposite films, the decomposition of various pollutants (methyl orange, phenol, metronidazole) was monitored under visible light irradiation, the best results being obtained for Au/ZnO film. Also, the advantage of immobilizing the catalysts in a polymeric support and its recycling ability without a significant decrease in photocatalytic efficiency was analysed.
ISSN:1996-1944
1996-1944
DOI:10.3390/ma13163468