Photocatalytic and Photoluminescence studies of ZrO2/ZnO nanocomposite for LED and Waste water treatment applications. (2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gurushantha, K.; L. Renuka, ; Anantharaju, K.S.; Vidya, Y.S.; Nagaswarupa, H.P.; Prashantha, S.C.; Nagabhushana, H.
• Is Part Of: Materials today. Volume 4:Number 11(2017)Part 3
• Page Start: 11747
• Page End: 11755
• Publication Date: 2017
• Subjects: Solution combustion synthesis -- ZrO2:ZnO -- Nanocomposite -- Degradation; Materials science -- Congresses -- Periodicals; 620.1
• DOI: 10.1016/j.matpr.2017.09.091
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2214-7853

Abstract

Abstract: In the present research work, ZrO2, ZnO NPs and ZrO2 :ZnO nanocomposites (NCs) with different ratios were synthesized by low cost solution combustion method using oxalyl dihydrazide as a fuel. The synthesized samples were well characterized with Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), UV-Visible spectroscopy and subjected to Photoluminescence (PL) studies. The PXRD pattern indicates the presence of diffraction peaks corresponding to both ZrO2 and ZnO samples. The band energy gap estimated using Wood and Tauc's relation was found to decrease from 5.3 to 3.2 eV. The luminescence properties and color quality of the NC were investigated in detail. The ZrO2 /ZnO (1:2) NC shows enhanced photocatalytic activity of 93% for degradation of acid orange 8 dye under UV light irradiaton. This work gives an idea about the synthesis of NCs in order to use it effectively as an efficient photocatalyst for water treatment and also as potential candidate for LEDs applications.