A facile one-pot synthesis of Er-Al co-doped ZnO nanoparticles with enhanced photocatalytic performance under visible light

Er-Al co-doped ZnO was synthesized via a facile, one-pot and non-toxic solvothermal process. The structural properties were analyzed by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. Furthermore, the presence of dopants in ZnO matrix was confirmed by EDX measurement. The results showed the existent of wurtzite ZnO structure and no other peaks corresponding to impure phases. UV-vis diffuse reflection spectra showed that Er-Al co-doped ZnO exhibited a red-shift of the band-edge as compared to the pristine ZnO. The photocatalytic activity of the photocatalysts was investigated by the degradation of methyl orange (MO) under visible light. It was revealed that Er-Al co-doped ZnO showed much enhanced photocatalytic activity to the pristine ZnO in the degradation of MO. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.