Novel Ag₂O/ZrO₂ composites with enhanced photocatalytic water decontamination

In this study Silver Oxide/Zirconium Dioxide (Ag₂O/ZrO₂) with different Ag₂O:ZrO₂ weight ratio were synthesized using microwave assisted method for remove organic pollutant from the aqueous solution through photocatalytic performance. The structural properties of the samples characterized by X-ray diffraction confirm the existence of cubic structures from silver (Ag) nanoparticles, cubic structure silver oxide (Ag₂O), and tetragonal structures from Zirconia (ZrO₂). The higher ZrO₂loading resulted in the higher Ag nanoparticles on the samples. The thermal analysis was investigated using Differential Thermal Analysis and Thermogravimetric Analysis (DTA/TGA). The weight lost at 400°C could be attributed to the phase transformation from Ag₂O into Silver nanoparticles followed by accepted heat from the environment. The UV vis absorbance spectra confirm the existence of surface plasmon resonance from silver nanoparticles. The photocatalytic activity was tested on the degradation of methylene blue from the aqueous solution. As can be seen from the figure that the higher ZrO₂ loading resulted in the higher photocatalytic activity under visible light irradiation with percentage degradation approximately 83 % The enhancement of photocatalytic performance due to the retarding recombination electron and holes.