Improving photocatalytic properties of Zn0.95Ni0.04Co0.01O modified by PANI

In this research, preparation of Zn0.95Ni0.04Co0.01O/PANI (polyaniline) (0.5%, 1% and 1.5% PANI) nano composites was performed by synthesis of pure polyaniline and adsorption of resulted organic chains on the structure of Zn0.95Ni0.04Co0.01O nano particles. The as-prepared samples was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), fourier transform infrared (FTIR), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and BET techniques. According to the X-ray diffraction analysis, pure PANI has a semi crystalline structure while all of the composites showed the characteristic peaks of Zn0.95Ni0.04Co0.01O with hexagonal wurtzite structure. The FTIR spectroscopy approved the interactions of PANI chains and Zn0.95Ni0.04Co0.01O nano particles. Field emission scanning electron microscopy analysis revealed amorphous structure of PANI and the spherical shape of nano composite. The BET analysis attributed the largest specific surface area of Zn0.95Ni0.04Co0.01O/PANI (1% PANI) nano composite. The photocatalytic results showed that the dye can be effectively decolorized by Zn0.95Ni0.04Co0.01O/PANI (1% PANI) nano composite. The enhancement of photocatalytic performance is due to the decrease of specific surface area and the higher separation efficiency of photo-induced electron-hole pairs.