Efficient Synthesis Approach and Photocatalytic Property of Cu and Ni Doped ZnO

An efficient route for the synthesis of Cu and Ni doped ZnO was developed in the presence of Zn(NO3)(2), CuSO4 and Ni (NO3)(2) with Gemini surfactant as the soft template. Moreover, the photocatalyst was prepared by a hydrothermal method, and its structure was unambiguously configured by XRD, SEM-EDX, UV-Vis DRS and PL as well. In this paper, different influence parameters to synthesize the ZnO photocatalyst were investigated, such as reaction time, temperature, the doping amount of the Cu and Ni. By adopting the newly synthesized photocatalyst in the degradation of model pollutant RhB, the optimal conditions to afford the ZnO were finally developed. The results show that the degradation efficiency could reach 96.9% in the condition that hydrothermal process 130 degrees C for 8 h, calcination 500 degrees C for 3 h, and 10 mg.L-1 RhB under the irradiation of 250 W high pressure mercury lamp with 0.8 g.L-1 1.0%Cu-3.0%Ni/ZnO as photocatalyst.