Combustion synthesis and characterization of visible-light-driven La/Al co-doped ZnO nanoparticles used for wastewater treatment

Abstract

Visible-light-driven LaxAl0.03-xZn0.97O (x = 0.01, 0.015 and 0.02) nanoparticles were synthesized by tartaric acid-assisted combustion method. Both ZnO and La/Al co-doped ZnO samples were indexed to the pure hexagonal wurtzite ZnO structure and were composed of nanoparticles with particle size ranges of 100-150 nm and 20-50 nm, respectively. The photocatalytic activities of ZnO and LaxAl0.03-xZn0.97O (x = 0.01, 0.015 and 0.02) nanoparticles were monitored through the degradation of methylene blue (MB) under visible light irradiation. The La0.02Al0.01Zn0.97O nanoparticles have the highest photocatalytic activity in degrading of MB under visible light irradiation because the La/Al co-dopant played the role in creating shallow energy level under the conduction band of ZnO.