PHOTOCATALYTIC DEGRADATION OF RHODAMINE B UNDER UV USING DOUBLE-LAYER ZnO: Fe THIN FILM

Abstract

Waste dyes are a major source of water pollution, which is a critical environmental issue. The purpose of this study is to synthesize double-layer ZnO: Fe 5-20% thin films and investigate the degradation of rhodamine B in these films. The creation of the ZnO phase with the wurtzite hexagonal structure may be seen in the thin film X-ray diffraction pattern. Only marginally lessened energy bandgap (3.11-3.09 eV), optical transmission spectra, and lattice strain was seen after Fe was added to ZnO thin films. With increasing Fe concentration, it was found that the hydrophilicity and photocatalytic characteristics of ZnO thin films considerably decreased, as shown by the contact angle going from 51.4 to 70.71 and the decomposition efficiency going from 61.46% to 50.35%. The double-layer ZnO layer's optical characteristics diminish as the Fe concentration rises.