Influence of phase composition and textural features of ZnMoO4–MoO3 systems on the photocatalytic degradation of methyl red

Abstract

The studied samples ZnMoO₄–MoO₃, have been prepared by immersing an amount of molybdenum oxide in zinc acetate solution according to the appropriate molar ratio x = ZnO/MoO₃ = 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8 and 1. These samples were then heated at temperature of 500°C for 3 hours. Prepared samples were characterized using different techniques such as: X-ray diffraction, Fourier spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, differential thermal analysis and nitrogen adsorption-desorption measurements. The Photocatalytic activity was studied via degradation of methyl red in aqueous solution when subjected to UV radiation. The results of this work revealed some variations, by increasing ZnO quantity, in phase composition and textural characteristics of ZnMoO₄–MoO₃ samples. It was found that these changes affect the photocatalytic activity by enhancing the degradation rate of Methyl red during the UV irradiation process.