Nickel and strontium-doped zinc oxide: A promising sorbent for methyl orange and methylene blue decolorization

Abstract

This study explores the enhanced photocatalytic activity of strontium (Sr) and nickel (Ni) co-doped zinc oxide (ZnO) films, synthesized using the spray pyrolysis method. By incorporating Sr and Ni into the ZnO matrix, the structural, optical, and photocatalytic properties of the films were systematically evaluated. Scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction analyses confirmed the successful doping and uniform morphology of the films. The optical properties, accessed via UV–Vis spectroscopy, indicated a significant reduction in band gap energy due to the co-doping, which enhanced light absorption. Photocatalytic experiments demonstrated that the Sr, Ni co-doped ZnO films exhibited superior degradation rates for organic pollutants (Methyl orange (MO) - anionic, and Methylene blue (MB) – cationic) under sun light irradiation compared to undoped ZnO. These findings suggest that co-doping with Sr and Ni is a promising approach to enhance the photocatalytic performance of ZnO films, making them suitable for environmental remediation applications.