Visible light photocatalytic dye decomposition behaviour of solid state reaction grown Zn₂TiO₄ nanoparticles

Abstract

In this investigation, visible photocatalytic dye decomposition is carried out with compound semiconductor nanoparticles of zinc orthotitanate (Zn2TiO4). These nanoparticles were grown by the solid state reaction method and characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, photoluminescence study, and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) study. The BET surface area of the Zn2TiO4 nanoparticles was found to be 8.78 m2/g. The photocatalytic activity is carried out by using a 500 W halogen light source having a spectrum in the range of 450 to 860 nm and the reaction kinetics was found to be the pseudo first order. The reaction rate constant was found to be 0.069 min−1. Discussion is given on the possible mechanism of the observed visible photocatalytic dye decomposition activity. The cost of the material used is very low, so it could be very useful for visible photocatalytic dye decomposition.

Aero-TiO2 Prepared on the Basis of Networks of ZnO Tetrapods

“…Apart from anatase and rutile phases, a ternary Zn 2 TiO 4 phase is often formed when ZnO and TiO 2 are mixed in technological processes. This phase is also photocatalyticactive [29][30][31][32][33], and it can be used in propanol [34] and acetone [35] gas sensing. ZnO/Zn 2 TiO 4 core/shell nanowires have been proposed for the photocatalytic oxidation of acetone [36].…”