Title: Sonochemical syntheses of iron doped zinc oxide nanoparticles at different sonication powers and temperatures with their application for photocatalytic degradation of PVC-ZnO composite film

Authors: Anirban Roy; Saikat Maitra; Sampa Chakrabarti

Addresses: Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Calcutta, 92, Acharya P.C. Road, Kolkata 700-009, India ' Government College of Engineering and Ceramic Technology, 73, A.C. Banerjee Lane, Kolkata, 700-010, India ' Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Calcutta, 92, Acharya P.C. Road, Kolkata 700-009, India; Centre for Research in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, University of Calcutta JD-2, Sector-III, Salt Lake, Kolkata, 700-098, India

Abstract: Doping with iron enhances various properties of zinc oxide making it suitable for several applications. Sonochemical route is an easy way for synthesis of doped ZnO nanoparticles. Input-powers of ultrasound and synthesis-temperature have significant influences over the characteristics of iron-doped zinc oxide nanoparticles. Effects of the varying sonication powers and synthesis temperatures on the average grain size, band gap and magnetic properties of doped ZnO were studied using UV-vis spectrophotometer, X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron micrography (FESEM) with Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and SQUID-magnetometer. Both temperature and sonication power influenced the characteristics. The nanoparticles were then used for casting composite films with polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and photodegradation of the film was examined under sunlight. Performances of nanoparticles synthesised at different conditions were compared. Maximum degradation of about 12% was obtained within three hours with nanoparticles synthesised at 42 W power and 30°C temperature.

Keywords: Fe-doped zinc oxide; ultrasound; nanoparticles; sonication-power; temperature; characterisation; bandgap; magnetization; photocatalyst; PVC-nanocomposite; degradation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNP.2018.094040

International Journal of Nanoparticles, 2018 Vol.10 No.3, pp.178 - 195

Received: 13 Apr 2017
Accepted: 12 Mar 2018
Published online: 13 Aug 2018 *

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