Transition-metal-doped ZnO nanoparticles: synthesis, characterization and photocatalytic activity under UV light

ZnO nanoparticles doped with transition metals (Mn and Co) were prepared by a co-precipitation method. The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-rays, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, electron spin resonance spectroscopy and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The photocatalytic activities of the transition-metal-doped ZnO nanoparticles were evaluated in the degradation of methyl orange under UV irradiation. ZnO nanoparticles doped with 12 at.% of Mn and Co ions exhibited the maximum photodegradation efficiency. The experiment also demonstrated that the photodegradation efficiency of Mn-doped ZnO nanoparticles was higher than that of Co-doped ZnO nanoparticles. These results indicate that charge trapping states due to the doping were the decisive factor rather than the average particle size and energy gap. Moreover the effect of pH values on the degradation efficiency was discussed in the photocatalytic experiments using 12 at.% Mn- and Co-doped ZnO nanoparticles.