SYNTHESIS, CHARACTERIZATION, AND PHOTOCATALYTIC ACTIVITY OF Co3O4/ZnO NANOCOMPOSITE FOR PHOTOCATALYTIC DEGRADATION OF CRYSTAL VIOLET UNDER VISIBLE IRRADIATION

Abstract

With an attempt to extend the light absorption towards the visible range and inhibit the rapid recombination of excited electrons/holes, Co3O4/ZnO nanocomposite and single system ZnO and Co3O4 nanoparticle were synthesized by simple precipitation method. The as synthesized photo catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS), and UV–Vis spectroscopic methods to study crystalline size, elemental analysis to know concentration of metal in the sample and band gap determination, respectively. Photocatalytic degradation of crystal violet using as synthesized photocatalysts were carried out using under visible light radation. Nano composite Co3O4/ZnO photocatalysts show higher photocatalytic activity compared to ZnO and Co3O4 nanoparticle under visible light radiation.