Musa Acuminata Peel Extract Assisted Green Synthesis Of Zno/Cuo Nanocomposite For Photocatalytic Degradation Of Methylene Blue Dye

Abstract

Photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants is an environmentally friendly technique for water treatment. In this study, ZnO NPs, CuO NPs and ZnO/CuO photocatalyst with CuO weight percent (w/w%) of 10%,15%,20% and 25% were successfully synthesized via sol-gel method using Musa acuminata peel extract as capping and reducing agent. The synthesized NPs and nanocomposites were characterized by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA/DTA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV-DRS) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The XRD analysis showed the synthesized NPs and nanocomposites are well crystalline without any impurity. The SEM studies revealed cottonlike porous morphology for ZnO/CuO nanocomposites which is helpful for photocatalysis. The UV-DRS studies revealed that bandgap energy (Eg) of ZnO is narrowed from 3.24 eV to 3.05 eV as CuO is coupled with it. The photocatalytic activities of ZnO, CuO and ZnO/CuO nanocomposites were evaluated by the degradation of Methylene blue dye under visible light irradiation. The results indicated 57%, 50% and 90% degradation efficiency of MB for ZnO, CuO and ZnO/CuO respectively. Furthermore, parameters such as effect of pH of the dye solution, catalyst loading and dye concentration were also studied.