Optical Behavior, TL Defect Center Analysis and Photocatalytic Characterization of Ag2O Doped ZnO Nano Crystals

The objective of the study is to prepare Ag+-doped ZnO nano crystals and to assess their structure, optical behavior, TL analysis, photocatalytic activity. Using sol-gel technique the Ag+-doped ZnO nano crystals prepared. Using the FT-IR, XRD, BET surface area, SEM, EDX characterization techniques, we have examined the structure of the developed samples. The TL analysis of samples was done under a dose of 25 kGy gamma irradiation. Trap depth parameters of the samples evaluated. Which suggested the ZnO nano crystals doped with Ag+ ions are purely TL active. The optical studies such optical absorption, photoluminescence of samples reveal their optical behavior. The optical band gap of the samples also evaluated. Which is increasing with increase in concentration of Ag+ ions in ZnO nano crystals. Using the MV (10 ppm) and CR (10 ppm) dyes, under visible light the photocatalytic activity of the samples reported. At a reaction period of 90 min, the nano powder containing 1.0 mol% Ag+-doped ZnO nano crystals and a band gap energy of 2.75 eV demonstrated the best photocatalytic efficiency (similar to 91 %) in both colors. The evaluation was done on the impact of radical scavenger research and catalyst dosage on degrading efficiency. The rate of reaction in the presence of 1.0 mol% Ag+-doped ZnO nano crystals was four times higher than the ZnO catalyst's rate constants, and the degradation reaction follows pseudo-first-order kinetics. The degrading process shows pseudo-first-order kinetics, and the reaction rate was four times higher than the ZnO catalyst in the presence of 1.0 mol% Ag+-doped ZnO nano crystals. It took three cycle runs for the degrading efficiency to drop by 1 %. Thus, 1.0 mol% Ag+-doped ZnO nano crystals was employed as a promising photocatalyst with strong reusability potential for the degradation of textile colors, which will be very beneficial.