ZnO/CNT Nanocomposite: Synthesis, Characterization and Application in Methylene Blue Dye Removal

ZnO/CNT nanocomposites were synthesized via a ball-milling approach to explore their potential for the photocatalytic removal of Methylene Blue dye, a common organic pollutant found in wastewater from textile industries. The synthesized nanocomposites were characterized for their structural, chemical, optical, and thermal properties. XRD diffraction analysis showed a lattice strain of 0.00534 and a crystalline size of about 21 nm. XPS results confirm the elemental composition and chemical states of the components, which were further supported by FTIR results. UV-Visible spectroscopy showed a band gap of 2.25 eV and an absorption peak at 369 nm. TGA results indicate distinct thermal transitions and provide insights into the material’s thermal stability. The ZnO/CNT composite demonstrated effective dye removal and achieved a significant reduction of MB concentration within 80.5 hours under UV irradiation, while only 1.5 hours under sunlight, which highlights the potential of this nanocomposite as a robust photocatalyst for wastewater treatment applications.