Enhancing photocatalytic activity of zinc oxide nanoparticles by a ‎non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma

In this work, plasma has been used as a simple, very fast, low energy and efficient method for modification of the zinc oxide nanopowder to improve its photocatalytic activity. Zinc is one effective photocatalysts in degradation organic contaminants, e.g. dyes. The purpose photocatalyst reduce band gap thus increase activity visible light range. To achieve nitrogen-doped nanoparticles (N-Doped ZnO), was suspended melamine solution, nitrogen precursor, then treated with non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma. Different concentrations different times exposure were considered optimizing structure. properties pure optimized samples investigated by XRD, FESEM, EDX, BET, DRS PL analyses. plasma-treated performed methylene blue dye contaminant. efficiency 71.7%. By applying 5 minutes concentration 500 mg/L enhanced 90%. According results, it can be seen that treatment succeeded doping process structure improved