Study to Evaluate Photocatalytic Decomposition of Several Organic Compounds and Self-Cleaning Ability of Fabrics Containing ZnO

Abstract

ZnO's ability to decompose organic substances is receiving much attention in multiple applications. ZnO has a broad spectrum of light absorption natural or synthetic, for a wide range of wavelengths, and is an important material with excellent properties, environmentally friendly, nontoxic, inexpensive, and high redox potential features with simple manufacturing methods. In this study, zinc oxide nanoparticles were synthesized by precipitation method with the participation of precursors (CH3COO)2Zn.2H2O and KOH. The surface morphology, chemical properties, and chemical composition of the ZnO catalyst were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy, and Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS). The photocatalytic activity of ZnO was evaluated with the color change of methylene blue (MB), methylene orange (MO), and diluted coffee solutions. The results show that ZnO has a high photocatalytic activity with a decomposition ability of over 90% for MO and MB pigments, and over 40% for a coffee solution when irradiated under ultraviolet light. This study's cotton fabric impregnated with ZnO showed good self-cleaning effects against organic pigments, which are MB, MO, and coffee. The results were demonstrated by the color changes over a 19-h period of time.