Enhanced photocatalytic ozonation of phenol by ag/zno nanocomposites

Abstract

Ag/ZnO nanocomposites were synthesized and applied in the photocatalytic ozonation of phenol. Their crystal, textural, morphological, optical, and electrochemical properties were investigated by XRD, Raman, SEM, TEM, UV–Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS), and photoluminescence (PL) techniques in detail. The results indicated that silver nanoparticles were well dispersed on the surface of porous ZnO and the intimate contacts were formed at the Ag/ZnO interfaces. This prominently favored the separation and transfer of photoinduced electrons from ZnO to Ag nanoparticles for the activation of ozone to produce •OH and •O2−. As a result, a significant enhancement in photocatalytic ozonation of phenol was achieved over Ag/ZnO catalysts. It also showed a synergistic effect between photocatalysis and ozonation.