Oxidative degradation of acid orange 7 using Ag-doped zinc oxide thin films.

Ag-doped ZnO thin films with preferred c-axis orientation along (002) have been prepared by spray pyrolysis technique in aqueous medium on to the corning glass substrates. The effect of Ag-doping on to the photoelectrochemical, structural, morphological, optical, luminescence, electrical and thermal properties has been investigated. XRD and Raman study indicates that the films have hexagonal (wurtzite) crystal structure. The effect of Ag loading on the photocatalytic activity of Ag-doped ZnO in the degradation of azo dye is studied and results are compared with pure ZnO. The results show that the rate of degradation of azo dye over Ag-doped ZnO is much higher as compared to pure ZnO. Ag doping in ZnO is highly effective and can significantly enhance the photocatalytic degradation and mineralization of azo dye. The enhancement of photocatalytic activity of Ag-doped ZnO thin films is mainly due to their smaller crystallite size and capability for reducing the electron-hole pair recombination. Kinetic parameters have been investigated in terms of a first order rate equation. The rate constant (-k) for this heterogeneous photocatalysis is evaluated as a function of the initial concentration of original species. Substantial reduction in azo dye is achieved as analyzed from COD and TOC studies.