Development and Photocatalytic Performance of Spherical Shape Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles for Environmental Remediation
Sajid Ali Ansari
Abstract
In this study, we developed a simple and effective method to fabricate spherical shape zinc oxide nanoparticles (S-ZnO-NP s ) that act as photocatalysts. We used a chemical precipitation technique with cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) as a stabilizer and ammonia solution to control the pH. We characterized S-ZnO-NP s photocatalysts using various techniques, including X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy. Our findings confirmed that the S-ZnO-NP s were successfully synthesized without any contaminants. We assessed the photocatalytic properties of the S-ZnO-NP s photocatalysts by testing their ability to degrade Rhodamine B dye (RhB), a common pollutant, under UV light. The results were impressive, showing that the S-ZnO-NP s photocatalysts degraded about 90% of the dye after 120 minutes of exposure to UV light. The high efficiency of S-ZnO-NP s photocatalysts can likely be attributed to their spherical shape and specific band gap energy, which enhances charge separation when exposed to light, thereby boosting their ability to catalyze the degradation process. The spherical shape of the S-ZnO-NP s photocatalysts is particularly advantageous for photocatalytic applications because it provides a large surface area that interacts with light. This interaction plays a critical role in generating electron–hole pairs, which are essential for the breakdown of pollutants. Moreover, the specific band gap energy of S-ZnO-NP s photocatalysts means they can absorb a significant portion of UV light, which is crucial for initiating the photocatalytic reaction.