Fe2O4/ZnO-nanowires synthesis by dip-coating for Orange II-dye photodegradation

Fe-doped ZnO nanowires (FZO-NWs) in microfibrous regime were successfully synthesized via a facile dip −coating method. The post deposited films were characterized by X-Ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, scanning electron microscope (SEM), Atomic Force microscope (AFM) and UV-vis spectrophotometer. Besides this, their photocatalytic activities were investigated through orange II dye (O-II) degradation. XRD analysis showed that FZO-NWs have been attached to the bulk wurtzite ZnO and ZnFe2O4 crystalline phases. SEM images clearly show the perfect hexagonal geometry of NWs in micro fibrous regime, with a width size ranged from 0.75 to 3.93 μm. The RMS surface roughness are varied in a wide range (7.57-4.,9 nm). The UV-vis absorption threshold is shifted from 3.25 eV to 3.15 eV. The recorded data demonstrated that FZO possessed significant photocatalytic activity. Especially, 5% Fe-ZnO-NWs gave the best degree of decolarization 42% then pure ZnO 25% within 350 min.