Facile synthesis of zirconia supported nanomaterials for efficient photocatalytic applications

Abstract

AbstractThe recent study enlightens the synthesis and characterization of zirconia (ZrO2), Fe‐doped ZrO2 (Fe@ZrO2), and Ni‐doped ZrO2 (Ni@ZrO2) catalysts having new‐fangled morphology with tuned band gap as photocatalysts for degradation of textile wastewater dyes methylene blue (MB), malachite green (MG), and their mixtures. SEM imaging of Fe@ZrO2 and Ni@ZrO2 is interestingly varied from ZrO2 as well as doping of transition metals greatly affects the morphology of composites. The optimization study depicts that the pH, time (min) and catalyst amount (g) have a direct relation with degradation efficiency, while the dye concentration (mg/L) has an indirect relation as well. The photocatalytic studies depict that the degradation of MB and MG follows oxidation pathway via hydroxyl radicals (OH•) and holes. Reusability of catalysts corresponds to a little decrease in degradation efficiency in the first two cycles and decreases to about ∼10% (Ni@ZrO2) and ∼12% (Fe@ZrO2) in next three cycles.