Abstract
Herein, nanorods-like ZnO particles was prepared by effective chemical synthesis process and carbon nanoplates supported ZnO nanorods (ZnO/C) was prepared by wet chemical process. The synthesized materials were characterized by various instrumental analysis via power XRD, UV-vis DRS, FESEM and EDX spectroscopy. The synthesized samples were utilized as competent photocatalysts for the remediation wastewater. The visible light-driven photocatalytic performances of the samples was assessed by the photodegradation of methylene blue. Compared to pure ZnO, the ZnO/C photocatalyst showed an excellent photocatalytic performances by efficiently degrading (around 95%) of MB as targeted organic pollutants within the irradiation time period of 80 min. The improved photodegradation activity of ZnO/C might be due to an improved absorption of ZnO/C photocatalyst in the visible region as well as good structural morphology and surface state which was accredited to an efficient separation of charge carriers and hindered recombination at ZnO/C interfaces. The higher photo-stability and photocatalytic performance was exposed that ZnO/C samples can be a potential photocatalysts for the applications of environmental remediation. Finally, a plausible degradation pathway mechanism for an enhanced activity of ZnO/C has been proposed. (C) 2019 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of King Saud University.