Synthesis of novel p-n heterojunction by the decoration of CuFe2O4 on ZnO nanorod: Characterization, enhanced visible light driven photocatalytic activity and intrinsic mechanism

The fabrication of ZnO based photocatalyst has shown enhanced photocatalytic performance when coupled with ferrites. The wide bandgap of pristine-ZnO constrains its utility beyond UV range, thereby limiting its usage in the visible region. Therefore, p-n type ZnO/CuFe2O4 nanoclusters (NCs) were constructed by indulging ultrasonic assisted chemical co-precipitation method. The internal morphological studies reveal that spherical-like CuFe2O4 is decorated over rod-shaped ZnO. UV-visible DRS spectra showed deviation in band gap energy of CuFe2O4(1.42 eV) and ZnO (3.4 eV) to 2.1 eV for ZnO/CuFe2O4 NCs-20. The apparent degradation rate-constant (k(deg)) of 0.014 min(-1) which was comparatively 2.8 and 1.75 folds greater than pure ZnO (0.005 min(-1)) and CuFe2O4 (0.008 min(-1)), respectively. The hydroxyl radicals ((OH)-O-center dot) were generated productively by the coupled ZnO/CuFe2O4 NCs-20 to bring forth efficient methylene blue (MB) dye degradation when irradiated under visible-light source. The reusable efficiency of ZnO/CuFe2O4 NCs-20 was determined to be 93.14%. This ensures that ZnO/ CuFe2O4 NCs-20 possess greater potential to behave as a photocatalyst for the abatement of toxicity in the aquatic environment.

Automated summary

The fabrication of p-n type ZnO/CuFe2O4 nanoclusters through ultrasonic assisted chemical co-precipitation method showed enhanced photocatalytic performance under visible-light source.