Enhanced Removal of Organic Dyes Using Co-Catalytic Ag-Modified ZnO and TiO2 Sol-Gel Photocatalysts

Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide semiconductor photocatalysts have been widely utilized in the last few decades for water treatment because of their high photocatalytic efficiency. Recently, a lot researchers focused on improvement properties catalysts through modifying co-modifying them with different metals nonmetals. These co-catalytic ions improve activity ZnO TiO2 by reducing its energy band gap. This might be useful wastewater degradation organic contaminants. In this study, we prepared films that were surface-modified Ag co-catalyst layers via photo-fixation (I) varied concentrations (10?2–10?4 M) phase under UV illumination first time. The behavior was evaluated malachite green methylene blue visible light irradiation. ZnO/Ag TiO2/Ag samples showed faster compared to due formation stable intermediates reaction OH radicals triarylmethane dye (C=C bond) during photocatalysis. co-catalytic-silver-modified had higher efficiency comparison pure nanostructures. photodegradation rate constants increased following order: < modified Ag, 10?4 M Ag10?3 Ag10?2 M. modification heterojunction composites contributed trapping transfer electrons. Therefore, photogenerated charges longer lifetime, resulting strengthened ability films.