Sabrina Roguai 1Abdelkader Djelloul 22024-02-142024-02-142021-03-0711https://doi.org/10.1007/s11144-021-01963-4http://dspace.univ-khenchela.dz:4000/handle/123456789/1041/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 flms were analysed by X-ray difraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), UV–Vis spectroscopy and Mott-Schottky analysis. X-ray difraction analysis revealed that the layers have a polycrystalline nature of hexagonal (wurtzite) and cubic structure. Microstructures the flms were also analyzed using scanning elec tron. The flms show a radical change in the surface morphology in accordance with the XRD results. The above analyses confrm 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 efciency of Mg diluted ZnO flms with the best yield in the case of 50% diluted ZO flms. It was confrmed that the ZnO50%/MgO had a profound efect on reduction of band gap and photocatalytic performancesenArticle