Photocatalytic performance of yttrium-doped CNT-ZnO nanoflowers synthesized from hydrothermal method. (June 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sharma, S.K.; Gupta, R.; Sharma, G.; Vemula, K.; Koirala, A.R.; Kaushik, N.K.; Choi, E.H.; Kim, D.Y.; Purohit, L.P.; Singh, B.P.
• Is Part Of: Materials today chemistry. Volume 20(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-06
• Subjects: CNT-YZO NPs and NFs -- Microstructural analysis -- Porosity and surface area -- Photocatalytic degradation/mechanism of MB; Chemistry -- Periodicals; Materials -- Research -- Periodicals; Materials science -- Periodicals; Chemistry; Materials -- Research; Electronic journals; Periodicals; 660.282
• DOI: 10.1016/j.mtchem.2021.100452
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2468-5194

Abstract

Abstract: We synthesized yttrium-doped CNT-ZnO (CNT-YZO) nanoparticles (NPs) and nanoflowers (NFs) from the hydrothermal method at 130 °C. The effect of Y 3+ -concentrations in nanostructured CNT-YZO was determined in terms of the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB). Microstructural analysis showed the hexagonal cubic structure of ZnO regardless of Y-concentration or the addition of CNTs during the nucleation and growth. The specific surface area, total pore volume, and mean pore diameter of typical CNT-YZO NFs were observed to be 36.109 m 2 /g, 0.162 cm 3 /g, and 17.932 nm, respectively. The photocatalytic degradation performance of CNT-YZO NFs improved due to increase reactive sites of the catalyst and reduced recombination of photo-induced carriers. The surface-area normalized first-order decomposition rates (r/m 2 ) of CNT-YZO NFs showed the highest photocatalytic degradation (99%). The CNT-YZO has produced a new kind of material for the photocatalytic degradation under the irradiation of visible light using a solar simulator. Highlights: We synthesized CNT-YZO nanoparticles/nanoflowers from the hydrothermal method at 130 °C. Structural analysis confirmed the hexagonal cubic structure of ZnO regardless of the dopant concentration of Y or CNT. The addition CNTs in ZnO decreased the recombination rate. Surface area-normalized catalytic activity of CNT-YZO NFs was seen twice of ZnO NPs and almost 14 times higher than YZO NFs. Photocatalytic responses of CNT-YZO nanoflowers improved the photocatalytic degradation of MB due to more functional sites.