Abstract
Functionalization of aniline molecules on zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles is reported using a simple impregnation technique. Functionalized ZnO samples were systematically characterized based on morphology, surface and optical properties, and photocatalytic performance towards methyl orange (MO). Aniline functionalization increased the surface charge of the modified ZnO. Compared to pristine ZnO, the aniline-functionalized ZnO yielded faster photodegradation of MO, degrading 98.29 % of MO in 60 min and superoxide radicals were the major species during the MO photodegradation reaction. These results indicate that the improvement of photocatalytic degradation could be attributed to opposite charge-induced surface adsorption. Hence, protonated amine as a positively charged molecule was expected to increase the surface adsorption of MO (as an anionic dye) on ZnO nanoparticles surfaces, thereby increasing their photocatalytic degradation performance.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 1-10 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | Journal of Materials Science and Technology |
Volume | 76 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2021 Jun 20 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:This research was supported by the 2020 research fund of University of Ulsan.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2020
Keywords
- Aniline
- Methyl orange
- Photocatalysts
- Surface charge
- ZnO
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Ceramics and Composites
- Mechanics of Materials
- Mechanical Engineering
- Polymers and Plastics
- Metals and Alloys
- Materials Chemistry