Synthesis and photocatalytic application of Pr-doped ZnO nanomaterials in methylene blue degradation

Abstract

In this study, praseodymium oxide-doped nano ZnO nanomaterials (nZnOPr) were synthesised by means of the precipitation method, which is widely applied for preparing nanostructured compounds. Following the synthesis, the structural, optical, and morphological properties of the resulting materials were comprehensively characterized. This was accomplished through a suite of analytical techniques, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy, and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). Furthermore, to evaluate their practical applicability, the photocatalytic activity of the nanomaterials was meticulously evaluated through the process of monitoring the degradation of methylene blue (MB) in an aqueous solution under natural sunlight exposure. The experimental results clearly revealed that increasing sintering temperature from 900 to 1000 and 1100°C led to a reduction in the MB degradation efficiency for both nano ZnO (nZnO) and nZnOPr samples. Notably, among all tested conditions, the ZnOPr0.5% sample sintered at 900°C exhibited the best photocatalytic performance under sunlight, achieving nearly complete decolourisation of MB with an efficiency of 99.0%.