Enhanced Photocatalytic Properties of Chemically Prepared Ni-Doped ZnO Nanostructures for Environmental Remediation

The use of photocatalysts in environmental remediation has gained significant attention recently due to their capacity to remove pollutants. This study explores the synthesis, characterization, and photocatalytic performance of Ni doped ZnO nanostructures. To investigate the impact of "Ni" doping on photocatalytic activity, a simple coprecipitation method was utilized to produce ZnO with different concentrations from 5 to 20 vol. % with an interval of 5 vol. % of Ni. Structural and morphological investigations confirmed the facile incorporation of "Ni" ions into the ZnO lattice, resulting in modifications to the surface morphology and crystal structure. The photocatalytic activity of the produced materials was assessed by the decomposition of crystal violet under visible light irradiation. The results demonstrated that Ni-doped ZnO nanostructures outperformed pure ZnO in photocatalytic activity, with a maximum degradation efficiency of 100 % observed at 120 min. for a 15 vol.% concentration of "Ni" doping. The increased photocatalytic activity is attributed to the synergistic effects of Ni doping, which enhance the surface area of 32 m2 g-1 for a 15 vol. % concentration of Ni doping necessary for efficient adsorption of reactant molecules and enable the separation of photogenerated electron-hole pairs. Overall, Ni-doped ZnO nanostructures show great promise for a variety of environmental remediation applications, particularly in the photocatalytic degradation of organic contaminants.