Photocatalytic degradation of xylene cyanol FF dye using synthesized bismuth-doped zinc oxide nanocatalyst

Bismuth-doped zinc oxide nanoparticles were prepared through precipitation method. The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized by UV-Vis spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX) and high resolution-scanning electron microscopy (HR-SEM). The photo catalytic activity of the synthesized Bi-doped ZnO nanoparticles was evaluated in the photo degradation of xylene cyanol FF dye under UV-light. The effect of various reaction parameters like time, concentration, catalyst dosage, pH and temperature was also evaluated. Successful doping with bismuth reduced the band gap of zinc oxide from 3.25 eV to 2.9 eV. SEM study revealed that the synthesized nanoparticles have elongated morphology. From XRD the average crystallite size of Bi-doped ZnO was calculated to be 37 nm. At a duration of 120 min and low dye concentration (10 ppm) 67% degradation of the dye was achieved. Using an optimum catalyst dose (0.05 g) the degradation increased to 94% at pH 4. An increase in temperature decreased the rate of degradation and low temperature (15°C) is considered to be favorable for the best degradation of xylene cyanol FF dye.