Self-assembled nanosheets of ZnCo2O4 as efficient sonophotocatalysts for day light dye degradation

Variety of semiconductor nanomaterials are extensively studied as visible light photocatalysts to degrade organic pollutants, effectively using the abundant solar energy often with the additional help of ultrasound. AB2O4 based spinel compounds are a novel class of semiconductor materials with many suitable properties for this purpose, but relatively less explored. Here in, we report the high adsorption and sonophotocatalytic degradation (∼91%) of methylene blue in the presence of sunlight with ultrasound in 3 h using hydrothermally synthesized self-assembled ZnCo2O4 (ZCO) nanosheets. The sonophotocatalytic functionality of the ZCO nanosheets has been examined in detail and compared with the recent relevant reports.