engleski

Synthesis of PEDOT/ZnO photocatalyst: Validation of photocatalytic activity by degradation of RR45 dye

Photocatalysis is the catalytic process classified as chemical method of waste water treatment. It can be carried out by using a photocatalyst such as metal oxides (TiO2, ZnO, ...). Thus, in this paper, in-situ synthesized nanocomposite of conducting polymer poly(3, 4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) in the presence of ZnO nanoparticles was studied. The role of the conducting polymer was to increase the photocatalytic activity of photocatalyst under simulated Solar irradiation. During the synthesis of PEDOT with ammonium persulfate (APS) the ratio of monomer: oxidant was varied (1:2 ; 1:3 ; 1:5) and obtained samples are denoted as PEDOT/ZnO (1:2), PEDOT/ZnO (1:3) and PEDOT/ZnO (1:5). Synthesized photocatalysts were characterized by infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Photocatalysis is carried out under UV-A and simulated Solar irradiation where the efficacy of azo dye Reactive Red 45 (RR45) removal from water was followed by monitoring discoloration using UV/Vis spectroscopy. From the results of photocatalytic activity it can be seen that the lowest efficiency of degradation show nanocomposite with higher concentration of PEDOT polymer. TGA thermograms of PEDOT/ZnO nanocomposites synthesized by various ratio monomer:APS oxidant indicate different structure of PEDOT and its concentration in samples.

Photocatalysis, Conducting polymers, Azo dyes, Solar irradiation

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