Evaluation of ZnO/Carbon Xerogel Composite as a Photocatalyst for Solar and Visible Light Degradation of the Rhodamine B Dye

Author(s)

dos Santos, Gabriela Spirandelli ^[1] ; Goes, Clarice Moreira ^[1] ; Martins de Sousa, Juliana Giancoli ^[1] ; de Moraes, Nicolas Perciani ^[1] ; Chaguri, Livia ^[1] ; Rodrigues, Liana Alvares ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Escola Engn Lorena EEL USP, Estr Municipal Campinho S-N, BR-12602810 Lorena, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology; v. 21, n. 4, p. 2292-2301, APR 2021.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

This study is focused on the evaluation of the Rhodamine B photodegradation using ZnO/carbon xerogel composite as a photocatalyst, in order to enhance the photocatalytic process efficiency under visible light. The proposed synthesis employs tannin as a precursor for the carbon xerogel, which enhances the economic and environmental aspect of the composite. The synthesized materials have the hexagonal structure of the zinc oxide (wurtzite), which is homogeneously distributed on the carbonaceous matrix. The diffuse reflectance test shows that light absorption was significantly enhanced for the composite. The solar light-driven photodegradation results revealed that the synthesized composite achieved virtually complete degradation of the dye present in the solution in less than 3 h, in all concentrations tested. The results of visible light driven photocatalysis showed that the carbonaceous material presents better photoactivity than the pure oxide (70% and 40% degradation of Rhodamine B, respectively), due to the synergistic effect between the carbon xerogel and zinc oxide on the properties of the composite. The photocatalytic mechanism main active species are the photogenerated vacancies and superoxide radicals. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 17/03428-2 - Change in the drying stage to obtain niobium-based photocalisers.
• Grantee: Lívia Chaguri e Carvalho
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 18/16360-0 - Development of ZnO/Bi2O3/Carbon xerogel ternary composites as photocatalysts for the degradation of persistent organic pollutants
• Grantee: Nicolas Perciani de Moraes
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 19/03641-3 - Photodegradation of 4-chlorophenol using ZnO/SnO2/carbon xerogel composite as catalyst
• Grantee: Clarice Moreira Goes
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• FAPESP's process: 16/20920-5 - Heterogeneous photocatalysis applied in the degradation of organic pollutants using a hybrid zinc oxide-carbon xerogel as catalyst
• Grantee: Nicolas Perciani de Moraes
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• FAPESP's process: 18/10492-1 - Photocatalytic evaluation of heterojunctions semiconductor/ZnO/carbon xerogel in the photodegradation of 4-chlorophenol in both fluidized bed and batch reactors
• Grantee: Liana Alvares Rodrigues
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants