Photoreduction deposition and characterization of heterostructure Pt/ZnO nanocomposites used for UV-light-driven photocatalysis

Pt/ZnO nanocomposites containing 0.5%, 1.0%, and 3.0% platinum, synthesized via the photoreduction deposition method, were used to study the UV-light-driven photodegradation of methylene blue (MB). Phase and composition of heterostructure 3.0% Pt/ZnO nanocomposites were indexed to a hexagonal ZnO phase doped with face-centered cubic (FCC) Pt structure characterized by XRD. According to FTIR and Raman analyses of Pt/ZnO nanocomposites, the vibration of ZnO was influenced by the strong interaction of metallic Pt nanoparticles. SEM images of heterostructure Pt/ZnO nanocomposites show that they were composed of flower-like ZnO structures with spherical Pt nanoparticles decorated on the surface of nanoplate petals. The photocatalytic performance of the as-prepared samples was evaluated by deleting methylene blue (MB) as a toxic dye model under UV light irradiation. The loaded Pt nanoparticles played the role in preventing the recombination of photo-excited electrons and photo-induced holes and enhancing the photocatalytic reaction of ZnO. In this research, 0.5% Pt/ZnO nanocomposites were the best UV-light-driven photocatalyst with % degradation efficiency of 97.37% within 180 min and with ●O2− and h+ as main active species. Research Highlights • Pt/ZnO nanocomposites are UV-light-driven photocatalyst. • They were successfully prepared by photoreduction deposition method. • The promising material used for wastewater treatment.