Preparation and Characterization of the Composites Based on the Zinc Oxide Captured on the Surface of Kaolinite

Nanostructured zinc oxide is intensively studied semiconductor showing photocatalytical activity. There are several precursors which can be used for the preparation of nanostructured zinc oxide like zinc acetate, zinc sulphate and many others. Zinc chloride is another compound which can serve as a zinc source for zinc oxide preparation. Nowadays the environmental aspects connected to applications of nanoparticles are widely discussed. As a possible solution how to avoid possible negative impacts of nanoparticles is their fixation on the surface of suitable substrate. In this work we focused on the preparation of kaolinite/ZnO composite with the amount 5 and 25 wt.% of ZnO. The chemical composition of prepared samples was investigated by using X-ray fluorescence method, the phase composition was studied by using X-ray diffraction method and photocatalytic activity of prepared composites was determined by means of UV induced discoloration of aqueous suspension prepared by the mixing of the composite with aqueous solution of acid orange 7. The obtained results indicate the kaolinite/ZnO composites as the efficient photocatalysts.