Journal of Advanced Materials and Technologies

Journal of Advanced Materials and Technologies

Synthesis, Characterization, and Investigation of the Physical Properties of ZnO/WO3Nanorods Using a Seed Layer, and Analysis of the Photocatalytic Process via Taguchi Method Experimental Design

Document Type : Original Reaearch Article

Authors
Hazim Hamid Awwad 1
Mehdi Boroujerdnia 2
1 Master Student, Department of Materials Engineering, Ahvaz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz, Iran.
2 Assistant Professor, Department of Materials Engineering, Ahvaz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz, Iran.
10.30501/jamt.2024.436338.1293
Abstract
In this study, zinc oxide (ZnO) nanorods were grown on substrates with and without a seed layer using a hydrothermal process. WO₃ nanoparticles were then coated onto the ZnO nanorods using the spin coating method. Techniques such as XRD, SEM, EDX, and UV-Vis DRS were employed to analyze the phase, microstructure, and photocatalytic properties. The results showed that the morphology of ZnO nanoparticles and nanorods, whether with or without a seed layer, significantly affected their photocatalytic properties. Additionally, the band gap size in the presence of WO₃ influenced the performance of the ZnO/WO₃ core-shell structure. ZnO nanorods with a seed layer exhibited a more uniform and orderly morphology compared to those without. The ZnO/WO₃ nanocomposite also improved dye photodegradation efficiency by enhancing electron-hole separation and reducing recombination. The experiments were designed and analyzed using the Taguchi method, which determined the number of experiments and assessed the effects of pH, time, initial methylene green concentration, and stirring speed on the photocatalytic degradation of methylene green by ZnO nanoparticles, nanorods, and the ZnO/WO₃ catalyst using ANOVA. The findings revealed that the initial methylene green concentration and pH had the most significant impact on the photocatalytic process, with removal rates reaching 70.2% for ZnO nanorods with a seed layer and 82.3% for the ZnO/WO₃ composite.
Keywords
Nanorods
Core/Shell
ZnO/WO3
Seed Layer
Hydrothermal
Taguchi

Subjects

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Journal of Advanced Materials and Technologies
Volume 13, Issue 2
Summer 2024
Pages 22-40

  • Receive Date 14 February 2024
  • Revise Date 11 June 2024
  • Accept Date 07 September 2024