Abstract
Zinc-iron-selenide (ZnSe-FeSe) composite was successfully prepared and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Brunauer Emmett -Teller (BET), X-ray photoelectron microscopy (XPS), Fourier transform infrared microscopy (FT-IR), and ultraviolet visible spectroscopy (UV/VIS). The developed nanomaterial having particle size of less than 10 nm was very sensitive to the visible light and an excellent photocatalyst selected for acridine orange (AO) degradation. ZnSe-FeSe has the ability to selectively degrade acridine orange (AO) in the presence of methyl orange (MO) and indigo carmine (IC) and its activity is as high as compared to other reported in degradation of AO dye by visible light irradiation. Reusability up to three cycles without decrease in catalytic activity and stability makes ZnSe-FeSe suitable for practical applications under visible light. Further the pH was optimized to degrade maximum AO. Minimum recombination rate of photogenerated carries of ZnSe-FeSe is the reason of its maximum photocatalytic activity. This innovative loom provides a novel itinerary for synchronized degradation of AO in single step, so for environmental safety it is the most economic and fast contrivance. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.