Lacunary Keggin-Type Hetero Polyoxometalate, K۷PMo۲W۹O۳۹, Supported on Nano ZnO as an Efficient Photocatalyst for Degradation of Phenol in Water Solution

In the present research, Lacunary Keggin-type heteropolyoxometalate, (K۷PMo۲W۹O۳۹) supported on ZnO nanoparticles was prepared by the impregnation method. Nanoparticle characteristics and the remaining Keggin structure in the nanocomposites were confirmed by FT-IR and XRD analyses. The photocatalytic activity of prepared K۷PMo۲W۹O۳۹/ZnO for degradation of phenol under UV light was investigated.  H۲O۲ was used as an oxidant in the photocatalytic degradation process of phenol. The results indicated that synthesized nano photocatalyst could be considered an appropriate heterogonous photocatalyst in the removal of organic pollutants from aqueous solutions and heterogenization of Lacunary Keggin-type heteropolyoxometalate on ZnO nanoparticles resulted in the improved light absorption intensity and decreased band gap of nanocomposites. Degradation of phenol in the presence of the K۷PMo۲W۹O۳۹/ZnO could lead to the disappearance of approximately ۹۳% of phenol after ۶۰ min. But degradation for the same experiment performed in the presence of the K۷PMo۲W۹O۳۹ or /ZnO was less than ۶۰% at the same time.

Keywords:

Photochemical degradation , Lacunary hetero polyoxometalate , ZnO nanoparticle , phenol