Novel synthesis of ZnO/PMMA nanocomposites for photocatalytic applications

Abstract

The incorporation of nanostructured photocatalysts in polymers is a strategic way to obtain novel water purification systems. This approach takes the advantages of: (1) the presence of nanostructured photocatalyst; (2) the flexibility of polymer; (3) the immobilization of photocatalyst, that avoids the recovery of the nanoparticles after the water treatment. Here we present ZnO-polymer nanocomposites with high photocatalytic performance and stability. Poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) powders were coated with a thin layer of ZnO (80 nm thick) by atomic layer deposition at low temperature (80 °C). Then the method of sonication and solution casting was performed so to obtain the ZnO/PMMA nanocomposites. A complete morphological, structural, and chemical characterization was made by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analyses. The remarkable photocatalytic efficiency of the nanocomposites was demonstrated by the degradation of methylene blue (MB) dye and phenol in aqueous solution under UV light irradiation. The composites also resulted reusable and stable, since they maintained an unmodified photo-activity after several MB discoloration runs. Thus, these results demonstrate that the proposed ZnO/PMMA nanocomposite is a promising candidate for photocatalytic applications and, in particular, for novel water treatment.

The properties of fibreboard based on nanolignocelluloses/CaCO3/PMMA composite synthesized through mechano-chemical method

“…The O1s peak at a binding energy of 532.4 eV was assigned to carbonyl oxygen of the methyl esters groups of PMMA and of the –COOH. The O1s at a binding energy of 533.5 eV corresponded to bridge oxygen atoms C–O–CH 3 of the methyl ester group of PMMA 39 . The fitting peak at around 531.2 eV was attributed to oxygen in OH groups which suggested that PMMA obtained on NLC surface via the OH–bond.…”

The novel modeling approach for the study of thermal degradation of PMMA/nanooxide systems

“…) =1 2 (9) where β denotes the heating rate (5, 10, 20 K/min), I = 1...4 and j = 1…N. N represents the number of the experimental data.…”

“…In the recent past, many research studies have attempted to improve thermal stability and to design optimal end-use properties of PMMA by adding different fillers (organoclays, alumina, silica, titania, zinc oxide, zirconium oxide and iron oxide) into the low viscosity monomers [7][8][9]. Different effects of various inorganic additives on the thermal stability and degradation of PMMA were assessed.…”

ZNO-Ag/PS and ZnO/PS Films for Photocatalytic Degradation of Methylene Blue

“…Zinc oxide nanoparticles were also fixed on glass plates as a photocatalyst to remove Acid Red 88 dye in aqueous solution [20]. This strategic way reported that mixing the photocatalyst with polymer matrix gives a new technique in water purification with characteristic features like good photocatalytic activity, low cost in consuming of the catalyst and no need to recover the catalyst after water treatment [21].…”