Nd 2 Zr 2 O 7 -ZrO 2 nanocomposites were prepared via a facile process with propylene glycol as novel connecting agent and benzene tricarboxylic acid as a new complexing agent. The as-obtained Nd 2 Zr 2 O 7 -ZrO 2 nanocomposites were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis (EDX), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, 2 field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). According to the morphological studies of the as-synthesized nanocomposites, it was found that the shape and particle size of Nd 2 Zr 2 O 7 -ZrO 2 nanocomposites depended on the space-filling template type, dosage of space-filling template and tricarboxylic acid as complexing agent. Nd 2 Zr 2 O 7 -ZrO 2 nanocomposites with different shapes and grain sizes have been synthesized. The photocatalytic behavior of as-produced Nd 2 Zr 2 O 7 -ZrO 2 nanocomposites was also investigated through photodegradation of methylene blue dye and 2-naphthol as water pollutants.
Highly photocatalytically active praseodymium zirconate (Pr 2 Zr 2 O 7) nanostructures were prepared by a new simple route with praseodymium nitrate and zirconyl nitrate as praseodymium and zirconium sources (at lower temperature). Benzene tricarboxylic acid as new stabilization agent and capping agent in presence of propylene glycol as connecting agent were applied to fabricate the nanostructured praseodymium zirconate for the first time. The as-obtained nanostructured Pr 2 Zr 2 O 7 was analyzed by UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis (EDX), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Results of this investigation reveal that grain size, purity and shape of the Pr 2 Zr 2 O 7 are controlled by altering preparation factors such as the kind of stabilization agent and alkaline agent. This is first attempt on the study of photocatalytic performance of the nanostructured praseodymium zirconate in various conditions. The effect of various factors including kind of pollutant, grain size of praseodymium zirconate nanostructures, praseodymium zirconate dosage and kind of illumination light on photocatalytic behavior of products were evaluated.
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