Sono-Synthesis and characterization of ZrO۲/ZnO nanocomposite, composition effect on enhancing of photocatalytic properties

Nanocomposite of ZrO۲/ZnO was prepared under ultrasonic irradiation by sol gel process from directly mixing Zirconium and Zinc gels. The mixture was placed under ultrasonic irradiation for ۲ hours. After the aging time and filtration of the reaction mixture, the filtrated composite gel was calcinated at ۵۰۰ °C for ۳h in furnace. The precursor gels of zirconium and zinc were prepared from dissolving of ZrCl۴ and Zn(CH۳COO)۲.۲H۲O into deionized water(DI). Nano ZnO, Nano ZrO۲ and ZrO۲/ZnO nanocomposite were characterized. The FT-IR analysis and the XRD study were exhibited that the crystal structure and purity of the ZrO۲/ZnO nanocomposite FESEM images were indicated the morphology and the average size of the NPs. The average size of the Nano ZnO, Nano ZrO۲ and ZrO۲/ZnO nanocomposite were determined ۵۴, ۲۳and ۳۷ nm respectively. The photocatalytic performance was increased when nanocomposite of ZrO۲/ZnO was used to degradation of Congo red (CR) solution. The ZrO۲/ZnO nanocomposite was shown higher photo-degradation efficiency of Congo red than of pure nano ZrO۲ and nano ZnO.

Keywords:

Sol-gel , Ultrasonic , Irradiation , Nanocomposite , photocatalyst , Congo red