Exploring the Potential of Novel ZnO-SnSe Composites for Efficient Photodegradation of Methylene Blue under Visible Light
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2024-10-17
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American Chemical Society
Abstract
With increasingly strict water regulations, the removal of toxic organic pollutants from industrial wastewater has become a critical challenge. Herein, a series of novel ZnO-SnSe composites-based photocatalysts were effectively synthesized by an inexpensive, facile chemical process. The prepared composites were analyzed thoroughly by utilizing different techniques and their physiochemical characteristics were compared with pure ZnO rods and SnSe nanoparticles. X-ray diffraction (XRD) data showed the existence of a hexagonal wurtzite phase of ZnO and an orthorhombic structure of SnSe. The crystallite sizes were determined to be between 20 to 37 nm. The purity of the samples was confirmed through the elemental compositional study using energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX). Field emission scanning electron micrographs (FESEM) showed that the ZnO appeared rod-shaped with random orientation. Similarly, SnSe was comprised of agglomerated particles. The microstructure of ZnO-SnSe composites showed the co-existence of both nanoparticles and rod-like structures. The absorption spectra and bandgap energies of ZnO-SnSe composites revealed a red shift with increasing SnSe contents. The prepared samples were tested for the visible light-mediated decomposition of methylene blue (MB) with and without H2O2. The ZnO-SnSe composites showed a significantly enhanced photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue compared to the pure ZnO and SnSe, achieving a degradation efficiency of over 98% in 300 min (without H2O2) and 97 % in 160 min of exposure time (with H2O2). The PL spectra revealed defects associated with oxygen vacancies, which were the dominant factors for the enhanced photocatalytic activities. The sustainability of the present work suggests that ZnO-SnSe composites could be used for the removal of various other industrial pollutants and may contribute to wastewater remediation.
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This is a manuscript of an article published as Azeem, Muhammad, Ayesha Riaz, Rafaqat Hussain, Attaullah Shah, Afzal Hussain, Sonia Zulfiqar, and Eric W. Cochran. "Exploring the Potential of Novel ZnO-SnSe Composites for Efficient Photodegradation of Methylene Blue under Visible Light." Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research 63, no. 43 (2024): 18411-18423.
doi: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.iecr.4c02206.