UV-induced photocatalytic degradation of azo dyes by organic-capped ZnO nanocrystals immobilized onto substrates

ZnO nanocrystals (mean particle size: 6 nm) with different surface organic coating and commercial ZnO powder (mean particle size: 200 nm) have been immobilized onto transparent substrates and comparatively examined as photocatalysts for the UV-induced degradation of two azo dyes, Methyl Red and Methyl Orange, in water. The effects of the pH, of the catalyst surface status, and of the dye chemical structure on the course of the photocatalysis are discussed. Reasonable degradation pathways for both target molecules are proposed on the basis of the structural identification of several by-products. The results demonstrate that surfactant-capped ZnO nanocrystals exhibit more versatile performances than those of conventional ZnO-based photocatalysts, because the surface organic coating makes the oxide resistant to photocorrosion and to pH changes. Surface-protected ZnO nanocrystals can be regarded as a valuable alternative to standard TiO2 photocatalysts.