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Ag2O–Al2O3–ZrO2 Trimetallic Nanocatalyst for High Performance Photodegradation of Nicosulfuron Herbicide

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Abstract

In the present study, Ag2O–Al2O3–ZrO2 based trimetallic oxide nanocatalyst was designed using simple microwave assisted reduction method. It was characterized using various techniques such as Fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR), X-ray diffractometer (XRD), electron microscopy [scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM)] and X-ray photoelectron spectroscope (XPS). It was utilized for the degradation of nicosulfuron herbicide and the influence of microwave (MW) and UV radiations on the degradation rate was also studied. Maximum of 78% degradation was obtained within 50 min. Scavenging studies showed the major involvement of ·OH and ·O2− radicals in the degradation process. Possible heterostructures (traditional and Z-scheme) with their possible charge transfer were also studied. Nyquist plots and photoluminescence (PL) analysis showed the high charge transfer and lowered recombination in Ag2O–Al2O3–ZrO2. Possible degradation mechanism was also developed using LC–MS. Reusability studies were carried out for consecutive 5 cycles and results indicated the appreciable photocatalytic ability after every repeated cycles.

Graphic Abstract

Traditional and Z-scheme heterostructure for Ag2O–Al2O3–ZrO2 trimetallic nanocatalyst

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Acknowledgments

One of the authors (M. Alam) is grateful to the Researchers Supporting Project Number (RSP-2020/113), King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia for the financial support. We are also thankful to Shoolini University, India for providing necessary facilities.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Chemistry, Shoolini University, Solan, 173212, Himachal Pradesh, India

    Sangeeta Bhogal, Gaurav Sharma, Amit Kumar & Shweta Sharma

  2. College of Materials Science and Engineering, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Polymer Science and Technology, Guangdong Research Center for Interfacial Engineering of Functional Materials, Nanshan District Key Lab. for Biopolymers and Safety Evaluation, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, People’s Republic of China

    Gaurav Sharma, Amit Kumar & Florian J. Stadler

  3. Department of Chemistry, College of Science, King Saud University, Bld.#5, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

    Mu. Naushad & Manawwer Alam

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  1. Sangeeta Bhogal
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Correspondence to Gaurav Sharma.

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Bhogal, S., Sharma, G., Kumar, A. et al. Ag2O–Al2O3–ZrO2 Trimetallic Nanocatalyst for High Performance Photodegradation of Nicosulfuron Herbicide. Top Catal 63, 1272–1285 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11244-020-01381-1

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