Synthesis of Ag–ZnO with multiple rods (multipods) morphology and its application in the simultaneous photo-catalytic degradation of methyl orange and methylene blue

• Ag–ZnO multipodes were synthesized via a solution route/photo-reduction process.
• Ag–ZnO multipodes have shown high efficiency in simultaneous MO and MB degradation.
• Influencing factors of simultaneous degradation are discussed.
• The photocatalytic activity of Ag–ZnO was constant after seven times recycle using.

In this study, the photo-decolorization of a mixture of methylene blue (MB) and methyl orange (MO) was investigated using Ag–ZnO multipods. The photo-catalyst used, ZnO multipods, was successfully synthesized. The surface of ZnO microstructure was modified by deposition of different amounts of Ag nanoparticles (Ag NPs) using the photo-reduction method. The as-prepared samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), UV–Vis and atomic absorption spectroscopy. The photo-catalytic efficiency of Ag–ZnO is mainly controlled by the amount of Ag NPs deposited on the ZnO surface. The results obtained suggest that Ag–ZnO containing 6.5% Ag NPs, has the highest photo-catalytic performance in the simultaneous photo-degradation of dyes at a shorter time.

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