Fast photocatalytic degradation of an organic dye and photoluminescent properties of Zn doped In(OH)3 obtained by the microwave-assisted hydrothermal method

• Published in: Materials science in semiconductor processing Vol. 27; pp. 1036 - 1041
• Main Authors: Tavares, M.T.S., Lovisa, L.X., Araújo, V.D., Longo, E., Li, M.S., Nascimento, R.M., Paskocimas, C.A., Bomio, M.R.D., Motta, F.V.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.11.2014; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Catalysis; Catalysts: preparations and properties; Chemistry; Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Doping; Exact sciences and technology; Fractures; General and physical chemistry; Indium hydroxide; Mechanical properties and methods of testing. Rheology. Fracture mechanics. Tribology; Metals. Metallurgy; Microwave; Optical properties and condensed-matter spectroscopy and other interactions of matter with particles and radiation; Photocatalytic activity; Photochemistry; Photoluminescence; Physical chemistry of induced reactions (with radiations, particles and ultrasonics); Physics; Theory of reactions, general kinetics. Catalysis. Nomenclature, chemical documentation, computer chemistry; Zinc; Microwave; Photocatalytic activity; Indium hydroxide; Zinc; Doping; Particle size; Photoluminescence; Crystal lattice; Degradation; Zinc addition; Energy gap; Field electron microscopy; Visible spectrum; Damaging; Scanning electron microscopy; Organic dye; Photocatalysis; Doped materials; Indium; X ray diffraction; Crystalline material; Hydrothermal growth; Hydrothermal synthesis; Zinc hydroxide; Morphology; Ultraviolet spectrum; Ultraviolet visible spectrum; Microstructure; Ultraviolet visible spectrometry
• ISSN: 1369-8001; 1873-4081
• DOI: 10.1016/j.mssp.2014.08.034

Crystalline zinc-doped indium hydroxide structures were prepared by the rapid and efficient microwave-assisted hydrothermal (MAH) method. X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission gun-scanning electron microscopy (FEG-SEM), photoluminescence (PL) and UV–visible (UV–vis) spectroscopy were used to characterization the materials. FEG-SEM images revealed that pure In(OH)3 samples and Zn-doped samples exhibit nanocubic morphologies with a wide range of particle sizes. Relative intensities of PL emissions decreased as the Zn ion concentration increased from 0 to 4mol%. UV–vis spectra indicate that Zn ion doping caused a band gap decrease with increased doping of 0% to 4% Zn, respectively, from 5.15eV for 4.96eV. Samples with Zn in the crystal lattice showed better photocatalytic activity and degradation of the RhB dye after 16min of UV exposure.