Optimizing the structural and photocatalytic performance of Ag-decorated ZnO/Zn(OH)2 nanoparticles for RhB degradation

In this study, as-prepared and Ag-decorated ZnO/Zn(OH)2 composite nanoparticles (NPs) were obtained using the sol–gel technique. First, the effect of aging on the structural, optical, and morphological features was examined. Ag NPs can interact with the electronic structure of ZnO/Zn(OH)2 NPs, resulting in changes in their energy levels. It was found that the composite NPs obtained after 6 h solution aging increased in full width at half maximum and good crystallinity of the structures from the X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements. The Raman spectrum supports the experimental data obtained from XRD and Fourier transform infrared, a material containing a mixture of ZnO and Zn(OH)2. From the morphological study, Ag NPs were successfully decorated on the ZnO/Zn(OH)2 surface, and composite NPs did not change the morphological appearance of the structure. Second, the photocatalytic performance of the samples was investigated. In the experimental setting, ultra-violet A light was employed as the irradiation source, whereas rhodamine B (RhB) was used as the dyestuff. The photo-degradation of the RhB dyestuff on composite NPs was observed to be 98.5% and 92.5% for 6 and 2 h aged samples, respectively. On Ag NPs, the catalytic performance of the sample was increased up to 95% after 180 min. © 2024 The American Ceramic Society.