Photocatalytic degradation of Congo red by ZnO nanoparticles with different morphology

In this study, ZnO nanoparticles in three shapes, spherical, rod, and sheet aresynthesized by a hydrothermal method using three different surfactants, namely threeethanol amine, cetyl three methyl ammonium bromide, and sodium dodecyl sulfate. Inall cases, the chemical composition, powder identification, morphology. and particlesize of the final product are characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), X-raydiffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electronic microscopy (FESEM), EDXelemental analysis, and UV-Vis spectroscopy. The photocatalytic activity of thenanoparticles are investigated for degradation of organic pollutants (Congo red dye).The removal tests of Congo red as a water organic pollutant indicates photocatalyticactivity and absorption ability of synthesized zinc oxides. Finally, the comparison ofthe dye removal results show that the rod nanoparticle has more efficiency in thedegradation of Congo red with 97% yield over 2 hours at pH=8.