Glassceramic containing ZnO and Ag:ZnO nanocrystals for dye photocatalysis

• Grant number: 23/14546-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: January 01, 2024
• End date: December 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Physics - Condensed Matter Physics
• Principal Investigator: Agda Eunice de Souza Albas
• Grantee: Luiz Eduardo Matos da Silva
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia (FCT). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Presidente Prudente. Presidente Prudente , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Photocatalysis processes have been highlighted in recent years in the literature as one of the solutions for the chemical treatment of pollutants, applicable in various environmental sectors such as air purification, water disinfection, hazardous waste remediation, and effluent treatment. There are various materials with photocatalytic potential. Semiconductor materials have been commonly studied and employed in heterogeneous photocatalysis processes. Innovatively, some scientific communities have also studied glass-ceramics containing semiconductors in their composition. In this context, evaluating the potential of pure and doped semiconductors immersed in a glass-ceramic for use in dye photocatalysis is a current and still relatively unexplored scientific topic. In this work, the production of glass-ceramics containing ZnO and Ag-doped ZnO nanoparticles will be proposed, obtained through two distinct processes: from powdered glass and from bulk glass sheets produced. Both glass-ceramics will be used in the organic dyes photodegradation, such as Rhodamine B. This study will be able to establish to outline processes for obtaining photocatalytic glass-ceramics containing ZnO and establish concrete theoretical parameters regarding the photocatalytic behavior of the glass-ceramic in relation to the presence of pure and Ag-doped semiconductor nanoparticles. It is also expected to evaluate and understand the photocatalytic property, aiming to contribute valuable theoretical information to this field of study. Carrying out this work could, therefore, contribute to establishing more sustainable solutions to environmental and industrial challenges, as well as expanding possibilities for research and innovation in different areas of science.