Microwave-assisted solution synthesis and photocatalytic activity of Ag nanoparticles supported on ZnO nanostructure flowers

• Main Authors: Anukorn Phuruangrat, Nicha Wongwiwat, Titipun Thongtem, Somchai Thongtem
• Format: Journal
• Published: 2018
• Subjects: Chemistry
• Online Access: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?partnerID=HzOxMe3b&scp=85052652139&origin=inward; http://cmuir.cmu.ac.th/jspui/handle/6653943832/62622
• Institution: Chiang Mai University

© 2018, Springer Nature B.V. Ag nanoparticles supported on the surface of three-dimensional (3D) flower-like ZnO nanostructure were synthesized by a microwave-assisted solution method. The obtained products were characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectrophotometry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and photoluminescence spectroscopy. The analytical results confirmed homogeneously distributed Ag nanoparticles supported on the surface of flower-like ZnO nanostructure. The photocatalytic effect of the heterostructure Ag/ZnO nanocomposites was investigated using photodegradation under ultraviolet (UV) light of methylene blue as model dye. The heterostructure Ag/ZnO nanocomposites exhibited much higher photocatalytic activity than pure ZnO flowers. The improved photocatalytic properties are attributed to formation of a Schottky barrier at the metal–semiconductor interface of the Ag/ZnO nanocomposites.