ZnO-nanoparticles thin films synthesized by RF sputtering for photocatalytic degradation of 2-chlorophenol in synthetic wastewater

•Degradation of 2-CP by ZnO thin film deposited by RF-Sputtering.•ZnO thin film with 200 nm thickness showed the highest efficiency.•Complete degradation of 2-CP was achieved at pH 3.•The kinetic parameters involved were fitted with Langmuir–Hinshelwood model.

Zinc oxide nanoparticle thin films were synthesized on glass substrate by radio-frequency magnetron sputtering (RF Sputtering) technique. The thin films were characterized and tested for optical properties by using different techniques such as field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV–visible spectrophotometry and fluorescence spectrofluorophotometry. The produced nanoparticle ZnO thin films were investigated as photocatalyst for degradation of 2-chlorophenol (2-CP) in synthetic wastewater solutions under UV irradiation. Complete degradation of 2-CP was achieved by ZnO thin film (200 nm thickness) within 3 h at solution pH 3. The photocatalyst retained its high efficiency even after three reuse cycles.