DOI: https://doi.org/10.55373/mjchem.v27i6.29

Keywords: MOF; nanoparticle; composite; dye degradation; SEM and Methylene Blue

Abstract

Ag₂O nanoparticles and an Ag₂O/Zr-CP composite were synthesized by co-precipitation and sonication methods, respectively. The synthesized Ag₂O/Zr-CP composite was characterized by FTIR, UV-Visible spectroscopy, EDS and SEM. FTIR and UV-Visible spectroscopy confirmed the formation of Ag₂O nanoparticles and the Ag₂O/Zr-CP composite. Scanning ElectronMicroscopy (SEM) confirmed the nanostructures of the synthesized products. Under solar irradiation, the Ag₂O NPs and Ag₂O/Zr-CP composite exhibited photocatalytic activity toward methylene blue (MB) dye at pH 9.2. The degradation efficiencies of the synthesized Ag₂O NPs and Ag₂O/Zr-CP composite were 82.23 % and 83.36 %, respectively. In contrast, TiO₂ exhibited an efficiency of 80.49 %. A kinetic study found that the Ag₂O NPs and the Ag₂O/Zr-CP composite had rate constants of 1.63×10^-2 min^-1 and 3.36×10^-2 min^-1, respectively. The pseudo-first-order reaction was followed by photodegradation of the dye, as indicated by the regression values (R²) of 0.9774 for the Ag₂O NPs and 0.9937 for Ag₂O/Zr-CP. The band gap values for the Ag₂O NPs and Ag₂O/Zr-CP were also determined at 1.62 eV and 1.8 eV, respectively. To increase photocatalytic activity, an optimal band gap is required. The band gap decreased to the ideal value for radical generation when the Ag₂O NPs were added to Zr-CP. Thus, the synthesized Ag₂O/Zr-CP composite may be applied to several industrial processes while advancing environmentally friendly and sustainable technology.