Rapid synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles via gliding arc discharge: unveiling the impact of discharge time on particle properties and photocatalytic performance

Ridha Messai; Mohammed Fouad Ferhat; Abdelghani Serouti; Bounedjar Nourelhouda; Muhammad Humayun; Nassiba Allag; Abdelhalim Zoukel; Mouffok Redouane Ghezzar; Mohamed Bououdina

doi:10.1007/s11356-024-33442-3

Rapid synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles via gliding arc discharge: unveiling the impact of discharge time on particle properties and photocatalytic performance

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2024 May 1. doi: 10.1007/s11356-024-33442-3. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Ridha Messai^{1

2}, Mohammed Fouad Ferhat^{1

2

3}, Abdelghani Serouti^{1

4}, Bounedjar Nourelhouda^{3

4

5}, Muhammad Humayun⁶, Nassiba Allag⁷, Abdelhalim Zoukel^{8

9}, Mouffok Redouane Ghezzar², Mohamed Bououdina⁵

Affiliations

¹ Faculty of Technology, Department of Process Engineering, University of El Oued, 39000, El Oued, Algeria.
² Laboratory of Sciences and Techniques of the Environment and Valorization, University Abdelhamid Ben Badis of Mostaganem, BP 227, 27000, Mostaganem, Algeria.
³ Faculty of Exact Sciences, Department of Chemistry, University of El Oued, 39000, El Oued, Algeria.
⁴ Unit of Renewable Energy Development in Arid Zone (UDERZA), University of El Oued, 39000, El Oued, Algeria.
⁵ Energy, Water and Environment Lab, College of Humanities and Sciences, Prince Sultan University, 11586, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
⁶ Energy, Water and Environment Lab, College of Humanities and Sciences, Prince Sultan University, 11586, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. mhumayun@psu.edu.sa.
⁷ Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Technology, University of El Oued, 39000, El Oued, Algeria.
⁸ Laboratory Physico-Chemistry of Materials, Laghouat University, Laghouat, Algeria.
⁹ Center for Scientific and Technical Research in Physicochemical Analysis (PTAPC-Laghouat-CRAPC), Laghouat, Algeria.

PMID: 38691291
DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-33442-3

Abstract

Herein, we present a novel approach for the synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) using a non-thermal plasma source generated by the gliding arc discharge-air system. The effect of discharge time on the physical and optical properties, as well as the photocatalytic performance of the as-fabricated ZnO NPs, was investigated. The characterization techniques revealed that the as-synthesized ZnO exhibit hexagonal Wurtzite structure, with a wide energy gap and peak intensities of UV-vis absorption with longer discharge times. A decrease in particle size from 29 to 25 nm was also observed with increasing discharge time, while all samples were thermally stable between 25 and 700 °C. The photocatalytic performance of the ZnO NPs was evaluated by degrading Congo Red (CR) dye with a concentration of 20 ppm under sunlight at a dose of 1 mg/mL. The as-synthesized ZnO NPs revealed exceptional photocatalytic performance by degrading ~ 97% of CR dye after irradiation for 150 min. This work presents an easy and simple method for synthesizing NPs in a short time and pave the way for other potential ideas on the application of plasma gliding arc discharge.

Keywords: Dye degradation; Environmental remediation; Environmentally friendly synthesis; Non-thermal plasma; Photocatalysis; ZnO NPs.