Li and Ag Co-Doped ZnO Photocatalyst for Degradation of RO 4 Dye Under Solar Light Irradiation.

The synthesis of Li doped Ag-ZnO (Li-Ag-ZnO) has been successfully achieved by a sonochemically assisted precipitation-decomposition method. The synthesized catalyst was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS), photoluminescence spectra (PL), X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS) and BET surface area measurements. The photocatalytic activity of Li-Ag-ZnO was investigated for the degradation of Reactive orange 4 (RO 4) dye in aqueous solution under solar light irradiation. Co-dopants shift the absorbance of ZnO to the visible region. Li-Ag-ZnO is found to be more efficient than Ag-ZnO, Li-ZnO, commercial ZnO and prepared ZnO at pH 7 for the mineralization of RO 4 dye under solar light irradiation. The influences of operational parameters such as the amount of photocatalyst, dye concentration, initial pH on photo-mineralization of RO 4 have been analyzed. The mineralization of RO 4 dye has been confirmed by COD measurements. A degradation mechanism is proposed for the degradation of RO 4 under solar light. The catalyst was found to be more stable and reusable.