Abstract
Pure ZnO, Sb-doped ZnO, and ZnO:Sb/g-C
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nanocomposite were prepared using a simple wet chemical route. The XRD results showed the hexagonal wurtzite structure of synthesized nanoparticles. The inclusion of Sb and Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C
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) changes the lattice parameters without affecting crystal structure. From TEM images, the morphology of the ZnO:Sb/g-C
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nanoparticle was found to be agglomerated spherical nanoparticles which are embedded over the nanosheets of graphitic carbon. The P.L. studies of ZnO:Sb/g-C
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nanocomposite exhibit reduced luminous intensity due to increased charge transfer among the ZnO:Sb and g-C
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which improved the photocatalytic activity. A decrease in the optical energy band gap of ZnO:Sb/g-C
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nanoparticles from 3.3 to 3.26 eV was analyzed by Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The photodegradation of Methylene Blue dye was studied in the presence of photocatalysts. The degradation efficiency and rate constant values for ZnO:Sb/g-C
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are 86% and 0.037 min
−1
for 60 min.