Photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue using sprayed Mg diluted ZnO heterostructure thin films photocatalysts
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Date
2021-03-07
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Abstract
The thin layers of ZnOx%/MgO [x= 30, 40 and 50 at%], were prepared by the spray
pyrolysis method on glass substrates at 450 °C, then tested for methyl blue (MB)
degradation under visible irradiations. The ZnOx%/MgO [x= 30,40 and 50 at%]
thin films were analysed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy
(SEM), UV–Vis spectroscopy and Mott-Schottky analysis. X-ray diffraction analysis
revealed that the layers have a polycrystalline nature of hexagonal (wurtzite) and
cubic structure. Microstructures the films were also analyzed using scanning electron. The films show a radical change in the surface morphology in accordance with
the XRD results. The above analyses confirm the co-existence of a mixture of the
wurtzite (ZnO) structure and cubic phase of MgO. The use of these mixed layers
in the photo degradation of MB gave satisfactory results. Indeed, the photocatalytic
tests showed the efficiency of Mg diluted ZnO films with the best yield in the case
of 50% diluted ZO films. It was confirmed that the ZnO50%/MgO had a profound
effect on reduction of band gap and photocatalytic performances.