Preparation and characterization of vanadium-doped ZnO nanoparticles for environmental application

Vanadium-doped ZnO nanoparticles (ZnO:V) were prepared via flame spray pyrolysis (FSP) from a mixed aqueous solution of zinc hydroxide and vanadyl (IV) acetylacetonate. The morphological, structural and optical properties of the ZnO:V photocatalyst were characterized via transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), and UV-visible diffused reflection spectrum (DRS). The photocatalytic activity of ZnO:V was evaluated via photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB). The results showed that the hexagonal wurtzite-structured ZnO:V nanoparticles were successfully synthesized via FSP. The morphology of the as-prepared nanoparticles was polyhedral and non-hollow. The average diameter of ZnO:V, which was calculated from BET result, was 11.7 nm when the molar ratio of V/Zn was 0.1. The maximum decomposition of MB by the ZnO:V nanoparticles was 99.4% after 180 min under UV irradiation, whereas the decomposition of MB by the pure ZnO nanoparticles was 96.6%.