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6381709 
Journal Article 
Novel ZnO/Ag sub(2)CrO sub(4) nanocomposites with n-n heterojunctions as excellent photocatalysts for degradation of different pollutants under visible light 
Pirhashemi, MHY 
2016 
Yes 
Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics
ISSN: 0957-4522
EISSN: 1573-482X 
27 
4098-4108 
Novel ZnO/Ag sub(2)CrO sub(4) nanocomposites, as excellent visible-light-driven photocatalysts, were successfully prepared with different weight percents of Ag sub(2)CrO sub(4) using a facile refluxing method at 96 degree C. The phase, purity, morphology, and electronic properties of the resultant samples were characterized using XRD, EDX, SEM, TEM, UV-Vis DRS, FT-IR, and PL techniques. The nanocomposite with 30 % of Ag sub(2)CrO sub(4) was selected as the best photocatalyst for degradation of rhodamine B under visible-light irradiation. Activity of this nanocomposite is about 16-, 20-, and 25-fold greater than that of the ZnO in degradation of rhodamine B, methylene blue, and methyl orange, respectively. The excellent activity of the nanocomposites was attributed to more visible-light absorption ability, due to presence of narrow band gap Ag sub(2)CrO sub(4), and fast separation of the photogenerated charge carriers, due to formation of n-n heterojunctions between ZnO and Ag sub(2)CrO sub(4). Furthermore, the influence of preparation time, calcination temperature, and scavengers of the reactive species on the photocatalytic activity was studied and the results were discussed. 
; Scavengers; Degradation; Irradiation; Morphology; Zinc; Absorption; Temperature/