Visible light mediated photocatalytic anionic and cationic dyes degradation using ZnO-Fe2O3 nanocomposite

In this work, hydrothermal technique and precursor materials obtained from the wastes of the filtration unit of the gas pressure reduction station were used to create a ZnO-Fe2O3 nanocomposite. FT-IR, FE-SEM, XRD, and TEM analyzes were used to investigate the properties of the produced nanocomposite. XRD analysis showed the structure of ZnO and Fe2O3 without impurities. The crystal size of the ZnO-Fe2O3 nanocomposite was determined to be about 53 nm. FE-SEM images showed a nanocomposite pattern with an approximate diameter of 50 nm. Finally, the visual decomposition of anionic and cationic dyes under visible light was used to study the photocatalytic activity of the ZnO-Fe2O3 nanocomposite. By exposing a metal halide lamp to light and darkness for 60 minutes and 150 minutes, respectively, it was possible to study the photocatalytic activity of the synthesized nanocomposite in removing anionic and cationic dyes from an aqueous medium. In the photocatalytic degradation of anionic and cationic dyes, the following factors were considered essential variables: pH, initial dye concentration, nanocomposite content, and exposure time. In this study, the degradation percentage of anionic and cationic dyes of ZnO-Fe2O3 nanocomposite with a ratio of 0.75:1 was 99.89 and 99.9%, respectively. The amount of band gap was calculated by the Tack plot method and electrical conductivity was calculated using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, which reduced the band gap. And the resistance increases. Due to the acceleration of charge transfer at the heterogeneous junction surface and the suppression of electron/hole pairs from recombination, the ZnO-Fe2O3 nanocomposite significantly increased the visible light current response.