Synthesis and characterization of polymer-coated AgZnO nanoparticles with enhanced photocatalytic activity

Abstract

The polymer-coated AgZnO nanoparticles were synthesized via a one-pot process with the assistance of the triblock copolymer, poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(propylene glycol)-block-poly(ethylene glycol) (PEO-PPO-PEO). The nanoparticles were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) including the mode of high resolution (HRTEM) and by energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), ultraviolet-visible light absorbance spectrometry (UV-vis) and photoluminescence spectrophotometry (PL). It is found that the nanoparticles reveal high crystallinity, good dispersibility, and excellent optical performance both in organic and aqueous solvents. The photocatalytic behavior of the AgZnO nanoparticles was scrutinized using rhodamine B (RhB) as probe molecule. The results show that the degradation efficiency of the AgZnO nanoparticles is higher than that of the ZnO nanoparticles under both UV and sunlight irradiation, 89.5% and 66.9% for the former and 52.7% and 37.5% for the latter after 90 minute exposure, respectively. Moreover, the AgZnO nanoparticles were found to have the photocatalytic efficiency unaltered after 5 cycles of use as tested. Our results demonstrate that the nanostructured AgZnO nanoparticles exhibit enhanced photocatalytic performance and high stability. Consequently, the AgZnO nanoparticles are favorable candidates for potential application as a promising photocatalyst.