Synthesis of Cu and Co Doped and Co-Doped ZnO Nanocomposites for Catalytic Reduction of Methylene Blue and 4-Nitrophenol

Abstract

Large volumes of organic pollutants are produced today due to the rapid growth of urbanization and industries. Continuous electron-hole transfer and the ability of nanoscale materials to absorb visible light are critical for pollutant catalytic reduction. Cobalt and copper doped and co-doped ZnO nano composites were shaped by the sol gel solution combustion (SG-SC) approach. The x-ray diffraction analysis confirmed the crystalline nature and interstitial doping of copper and cobalt in the zinc oxide lattice and the development of ZnO-CuO local contact. The PL and DRS-UV-vis investigations showed the NCs’ superior charge transfer and considerable redshift (from 3.17 to 2.21 eV) properties over ZnO. TEM and SEM-EDS analyses confirmed the foam-type surface morphology, elemental composition, and dopant distribution. The NCs showed greater potency than ZnO NPs in the catalytic reduction reactions of 4-nitrophenol and methylene blue. Thus, the SG-SC approach has the potential for industrially scalable catalytic pollutant reduction applications.