Facile size-controlled preparation of highly photocatalytically active ZnCr2O4 and ZnCr2O4/Ag nanostructures for removal of organic contaminants

Ali Abbasi; Masood Hamadanian; Masoud Salavati-Niasari; Sobhan Mortazavi-Derazkola

doi:10.1016/j.jcis.2017.04.003

Facile size-controlled preparation of highly photocatalytically active ZnCr₂O₄ and ZnCr₂O₄/Ag nanostructures for removal of organic contaminants

J Colloid Interface Sci. 2017 Aug 15:500:276-284. doi: 10.1016/j.jcis.2017.04.003. Epub 2017 Apr 8.

Authors

Ali Abbasi¹, Masood Hamadanian¹, Masoud Salavati-Niasari², Sobhan Mortazavi-Derazkola¹

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Nano Science and Nano Technology, University of Kashan, Kashan, P.O. Box 8731753153, Islamic Republic of Iran.
² Institute of Nano Science and Nano Technology, University of Kashan, Kashan, P.O. Box 8731753153, Islamic Republic of Iran. Electronic address: salavati@kashanu.ac.ir.

PMID: 28412636
DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2017.04.003

Abstract

The ZnCr₂O₄ nanoparticles were synthesized and characterized by different techniques such as; XRD, SEM, EDS, VSM, TEM and IR. In order to modify the morphology of structures, various alkaline and capping agents were used. For this work TETA, en and NH₃ as alkaline agents and salicylaldehyde, N,N'-(bis(salicylidene)-ethylene-1,2-diamine) and SDS as capping agents were employed. The cubic morphology for the ZnCr₂O₄ nanoparticles were obtained by using TETA and N,N'-(bis(salicylidene)-ethylene-1,2-diamine). When SDS and TETA were used, very uniform spherical zinc chromite nanoparticles with fine grain size were produced. Then on the surface of these nanoparticles, Ag nanoparticles were covered by photodeposition method. For investigation photocatalytic activity of the nanoparticles, several factors such as various azo dyes, temperature, grain size and morphology were investigated. Also by using of ZnCr₂O₄/Ag nanoparticles prepared polymer based nanocomposite. Results indicate that, nanoparticles can enhance the thermal stability of the PVA matrix.

Keywords: Electron microscopy; Nanocomposite; Photocatalyst; Photodeposition; ZnCr(2)O(4); ZnCr(2)O(4)/Ag.