Photocatalytic degradation of herbicides under visible light using Ni-Pr2O3 nanocomposites

Pr2O3 nanowires and Ni-Pr2O3 nanocomposites were successfully prepared by hydrothermal method and a photoassisted deposition methods, respectively. Pr2O3 was prepared as nanowires and nickel was deposited as metallic nickel. Photocatalytic degradation of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid using visible light irradiation was used as a model reaction to measure photocatalytic performances of Pr2O3 nanowires and Ni-Pr2O3 nanocomposites. Deposition of nickel on surface of Pr2O3 nanowires increase photocatalytic activity of Pr2O3 nanowires. Also, we noticed that wt % of deposited nickel play important role in control photocatalytic activity of Pr2O3 nanowires and the highest photocatalytic activity was achieved by using 0.3 wt % of nickel. 0.3 wt % Ni-Pr2O3 nanocomposites have photocatalytic stability for degradation of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid for five times. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.