Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Synergistic photocatalysis: harnessing WSe2-ZnO nanocomposites for efficient malachite green dye degradation

  • Regular Article
  • Published:
The European Physical Journal Plus Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In this work, the zinc oxide (ZnO) nanorods on the WSe2 nanosheets were synthesized by a two-step method. The synthesized nanomaterials were characterized by XRD and SEM to confirm the structural and morphological properties. The band gap of the materials was calculated using a Tauc’ plot, and the band gap of the nanocomposite was found to be 2.59 eV. The nanocomposite falls under the visible light spectrum and overcomes the problem of wide bandgap of ZnO. The surface charge of the nanocomposite was analyzed by zeta potential measurement and found to be suitable for the adsorption of malachite green dye. The fabrication of nanocomposite improves the recombination rate, as confirmed by the time-resolved photoluminescence measurements. The photocatalytic degradation of malachite green dye was performed, and an efficiency of  ~80% was achieved. The nanocomposite follows a pseudo-first-order model, which is confirmed by the high correlation coefficient value. The photocatalysis mechanism was proposed and confirmed through a scavenger test. The reusability test demonstrates that the nanocomposite is a potential candidate for dye degradation.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8

Similar content being viewed by others

Data Availability Statement

This manuscript has associated data in a data repository. [Authors’ comment: The data presented in this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.]

References

  1. H.B. Slama, A. ChenariBouket, Z. Pourhassan, F.N. Alenezi, A. Silini, H. Cherif-Silini, T. Oszako, L. Luptakova, P. Golińska, L. Belbahri, Diversity of synthetic dyes from textile industries, discharge impacts and treatment methods. Appl. Sci. 11(14), 6255 (2021)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. D.C. Roy, S.K. Biswas, M.M. Sheam, M.R. Hasan, A.K. Saha, A.K. Roy, M.E. Haque, M.M. Rahman, S.S. Tang, Bioremediation of malachite green dye by two bacterial strains isolated from textile effluents. Current Res. Microb. Sci. 1, 37–43 (2020)

    Google Scholar 

  3. S. Srivastava, R. Sinha, D. Roy, Toxicological effects of malachite green. Aquat. Toxicol. 66(3), 319–329 (2004)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. S.J. Srivastava, N.D. Singh, A.K. Srivastava, R. Sinha, Acute toxicity of malachite green and its effects on certain blood parameters of a catfish, Heteropneustesfossilis. Aquat. Toxicol.ogy 31(3), 241–247 (1995)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. C. Thamaraiselvan, M. Noel, Membrane processes for dye wastewater treatment: recent progress in fouling control. Crit. Rev. Environ. Sci. Technol. 45(10), 1007–1040 (2015)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. S. Wong, N.A. Ghafar, N. Ngadi, F.A. Razmi, I.M. Inuwa, R. Mat, N.A.S. Amin, Effective removal of anionic textile dyes using adsorbent synthesized from coffee waste. Sci. Rep. 10(1), 2928 (2020)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  7. R. Sarathi, L.R. Devi, N.L. Sheeba, E.S. Esakki, S.M. Sundar, Photocatalytic degradation of malachite green dye by metal oxide nanoparticles-mini review. J. Chem. Rev 5(1), 15–30 (2023)

    Google Scholar 

  8. M. Sathya, G. Selvan, M. Karunakaran, K. Kasirajan, S. Usha, M. Logitha, S. Prabakaran, P. Baskaran, Synthesis and characterization of cadmium doped on ZnO thin films prepared by SILAR method for photocatalytic degradation properties of MB under UV irradiation. The Eur. Phys. J. Plus 138(1), 1–12 (2023)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. X.F. Qi, F. Zhang, Z.P. Chen, X. Chen, M.C. Jia, H.F. Ji, Z.F. Shi, Hydrothermal synthesis of stable lead-free Cs 4 MnBi 2 Cl 12 perovskite single crystals for efficient photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants. J. Mater. Chem. C 11(11), 3715–3725 (2023)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. S. Bose, M. Maruthupandy, W.S. Cho, H.W. Kang, Visible light induced photocatalytic degradation of direct red 80 dye molecules using CuxFeSx nanocomposites. Surfaces Interfaces 39, 102891 (2023)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. K. Bhardwaj, A.K. Singh, Bio-waste and natural resource mediated eco-friendly synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles and their photocatalytic application against dyes contaminated water. Chem. Eng. J. Adv. 16, 100536 (2023)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. P.A. Luque, H.E. Garrafa-Gálvez, C.A. García-Maro, C.A. Soto-Robles, Study of the optical properties of ZnO semiconductor nanoparticles using Origanum vulgare and its effect in Rhodamine B degradation. Optik 258, 168937 (2022)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  13. N. Yudasari, D.S.Kennedy, M.M. Suliyanti, Pulse laser deposition (PLD) technique for ZnO photocatalyst fabrication. J. Phys. Conf. Ser. 1191, 012009. IOP Publishing (2019)

  14. A. Saadati, S. Sheibani, Nitrogen-doped carbon dot impregnated g-C3N4/SnS2 nanocomposite as an efficient mediator and co-catalyst for enhanced photocatalytic degradation and water splitting. J. Alloy. Compd. 947, 169594 (2023)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. S. Ahmed, A. Ansari, M.A. Siddiqui, M. Imran, B. Kumari, A. Khan, P. Ranjan, Electrochemical and optical-based systems for SARS-COV-2 and various pathogens assessment. Adv. Nat. Sci. Nanosci. Nanotechnol 14(3), 033001 (2023)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  16. S. Ahmed, A. Ansari, A.S. Haidyrah, A.A. Chaudhary, M. Imran, A. Khan, Hierarchical molecularly imprinted inverse opal-based platforms for highly selective and sensitive determination of histamine. ACS Appl. Polym. Mater. 4(4), 2783–2793 (2022)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. S. Ahmed, A. Ansari, M.A. Siddiqui, A. Khan, P. Ranjan, A potential optical sensor based on nanostructured silicon. J. Mater. Sci. Mater. Electron. 34(8), 755 (2023)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. S. Ahmed, S. Khatun, S. Sallam, A. Ansari, Z.A. Ansari, R.R. Kumar, J. Hakami, A. Khan, Photoresponse of porous silicon for potential optical sensing. Europhys. Lett. 139(3), 36001 (2022)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  19. A. Khan, S. Ahmed, B.Y. Sun, Y.C. Chen, W.T. Chuang, Y.H. Chan, D. Gupta, P.W. Wu, H.C. Lin, Self-healable and anti-freezing ion conducting hydrogel-based artificial bioelectronic tongue sensing toward astringent and bitter tastes. Biosens. Bioelectron. 198, 113811 (2022)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. M. Imran, S. Ahmed, A.Z. Abdullah, J. Hakami, A.A. Chaudhary, H.A. Rudayni, S.U.D. Khan, A. Khan, N.S. Basher, Nanostructured material-based optical and electrochemical detection of amoxicillin antibiotic. Luminescence 38(7), 1064–1086 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1002/bio.4408

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. H.A. Alhazmi, M. Imran, S. Ahmed, M. Albratty, H.A. Makeen, A. Najmi, M.S. Alam, Electrochemical detection of dopamine using WSe2 microsheets modified platinum electrode. Phys Script (2023)

  22. M. Imran, S. Ahmed, E.A. Al-Harthi, M.E. Khan, M.M. Alam, F. Haouala, A.A. Chaudhary, A. Asghar, Electrochemical detection of nitrazepam using leaf-like graphitic carbon nitride nanosheets. Phys. Scr. 98(7), 075003 (2023)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  23. M. Imran, A.A. Chaudhary, S. Ahmed, M.M. Alam, A. Khan, N. Zouli, J. Hakami, H.A. Rudayni, S.U.D. Khan, Iron oxide nanoparticle-based ferro-nanofluids for advanced technological applications. Molecules 27(22), 7931 (2022)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. A. Khan, J. Cong, R.R. Kumar, S. Ahmed, D. Yang, X. Yu, Chemical vapor deposition of graphene on self-limited SiC interfacial layers formed on silicon substrates for heterojunction devices. ACS Appl. Nano Mater. 5(12), 17544–17555 (2022)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. A. Khan, S.M. Islam, S. Ahmed, R.R. Kumar, M.R. Habib, K. Huang, M. Hu, X. Yu, D. Yang, Direct CVD growth of graphene on technologically important dielectric and semiconducting substrates. Adv. Sci. 5(11), 1800050 (2018)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. S. Hussain, M.M. Alam, M. Imran, N. Zouli, A. Aziz, K. Irshad, M. Haider, A. Khan, Fe3O4 nanoparticles decorated multi-walled carbon nanotubes based magnetic nanofluid for heat transfer application. Mater. Lett. 274, 128043 (2020)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. G. Madhaiyan, T.W. Tung, H.W. Zan, H.F. Meng, C.J. Lu, A. Ansari, W.T. Chuang, H.C. Lin, UV-enhanced room-temperature ultrasensitive NO gas sensor with vertical channel nano-porous organic diodes. Sens. Actuators B Chem. 320, 128392 (2020)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. M.A. Munir, F. Rahmawati, J.A. Jamal, S. Ibrahim, M.M. Said, M.S. Ahmad, Inspecting histamine isolated from fish through a highly selective molecularly imprinted electrochemical sensor approach. ACS Omega 8(14), 13352–13361 (2023)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. S.K. Ali, W.M. Alamier, N. Hasan, S. Ahmed, A. Ansari M. Imran, Synergistic nanomaterials: zinc sulfide-polyaniline for ciprofloxacin electrochemical sensing. Appl. Phys. A 129, 859 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-023-07124-9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. J. Zhang, Y. Ma, Y. Han, K. Xu, S. Yao, L. Shi, M. Zhu, 3D porous structure assembled from MXene via breath figure method for electrochemical detection of dopamine. Chem. Eng. J. 452, 139414 (2023)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. X. Zhao, C. Yang, Y. Ma, J. He, Y. Liu, H. Dong, W. Wang, Highly sensitive determination of putrescine in pork by an electrochemical biosensor constructed with unfolded hemoglobin and diamine oxidase. Food Control 11, 110012 (2023)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. L. Raja, S. Venkatesan, L. Ming-chang, P. Vediappen, A turn-on fluorescent sensor for the detection of putrescine in fish samples using thiazole derivative. J. Photochem. Photobiol. A 438, 114546 (2023)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. C. He, M. Asif, Q. Liu, F. Xiao, H. Liu, B.Y. Xia, Noble metal construction for electrochemical nonenzymatic glucose detection Adv. Mater. Technol. 8(1), 2200272 (2023)

    Google Scholar 

  34. A. Ansari, S. Ahmed, M.A. Siddiqui, D.S. Negi, P. Ranjan, TiO2/PEDOT: PSS hybrid matrix for optoelectronic devices, in International Conference on Nanotechnology: Opportunities and Challenges. (Singapore, Springer Nature Singapore, 2022), pp. 67–73. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-4685-3_10

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  35. S. Ahmed, A. Ansari, M.A. Siddiqui, P. Ranjan, Metal/polymeric hierarchical platform as biosensor, in International Conference on Nanotechnology: Opportunities and Challenges. (Singapore, Springer Nature Singapore, 2022), pp. 17–24. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-4685-3_3

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  36. M.A. Siddiqui, S. Ahmed, A. Ansari, P. Ranjan, Photo and piezocatalytic behavior of Ag-NPs-hybridized barium titanate, in International Conference on Nanotechnology: Opportunities and Challenges. (Singapore, Springer Nature Singapore, 2022), pp. 345–351. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-4878-9_49

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. E. Rahmanian, R. Malekfar, M. Pumera, Nanohybrids of Two-dimensional transition-metal dichalcogenides and titanium dioxide for photocatalytic applications. Chem. Eur. J. 24(1), 18–31 (2018)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. H. Mittal, A. Kumar, M. Khanuja, MoSe2-PANI Nanocomposite as Supercapacitor Electrode Material: Optimization, Mechanism and Electrochemical Performance. Chemistry Select 7(27), e202201623 (2022)

    Google Scholar 

  39. D.G. Ayu, S. Gea, T.D.J. Andriayani, A.F.R. Piliang, M. Harahap, Z. Yen, R. Goei, A.I.Y. Tok, Photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue using N-Doped ZnO/Carbon Dot (N-ZnO/CD) nanocomposites derived from organic soybean. ACS Omega 8(17), 14965–14984 (2023)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. S. Nair, J. Joy, C. Limberkar, K.D. Patel, G.K. Solanki, V.M. Pathak, Photocatalytic degradation of organic dyes by Ni (25%) doped WSe2 nanosheets. Mater. Sci. Semicond. Process. 125, 105625 (2021)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. T.M. Tien, Y.J. Chung, C.T. Huang, E.L. Chen, Fabrication of WS2/WSe2 Z-scheme nano-heterostructure for efficient photocatalytic hydrogen production and removal of congo red under visible light. Catalysts 12(8), 852 (2022)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. H.Y. He, Assembly of 1T-WSe 2: Sn nanosheets/graphene by a modified hydrothermal process for water splitting. J. Sol Gel. Sci. Technol. 93, 554–562 (2020)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. A. Kumar, H. Mittal, M. Khanuja, Facile synthesis of 2D acid-etched g-C3N4 nanosheets with 1D ZnO nanorods as a promising electrode material for supercapacitor. J. Energy Storage 67, 107496 (2023)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  44. M. Zou, J. Zhang, H. Zhu, M. Du, Q. Wang, M. Zhang, X. Zhang, A 3D dendritic WSe 2 catalyst grown on carbon nanofiber mats for efficient hydrogen evolution. J. Mater. Chem. A 3(23), 12149–12153 (2015)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  45. V.M. Ovando-Medina, R.G. López, B.E. Castillo-Reyes, P.A. Alonso-Dávila, H. Martínez-Gutiérrez, O. González-Ortega, L. Farías-Cepeda, Composite of acicular rod-like ZnO nanoparticles and semiconducting polypyrrole photoactive under visible light irradiation for methylene blue dye photodegradation. Colloid Polym. Sci. 293, 3459–3469 (2015)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  46. A. Sierra-Castillo, E. Haye, S. Acosta, C. Bittencourt, J.F. Colomer, Synthesis and characterization of highly crystalline vertically aligned WSe2 nanosheets. Appl. Sci. 10(3), 874 (2020)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  47. M. Pudukudy, Z. Yaakob, Facile synthesis of quasi spherical ZnO nanoparticles with excellent photocatalytic activity. J. Cluster Sci. 26, 1187–1201 (2015)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  48. A. Das, M.K. Adak, N. Mahata, B. Biswas, Wastewater treatment with the advent of TiO2 endowed photocatalysts and their reaction kinetics with scavenger effect. J. Mol. Liq. 338, 116479 (2021)

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors extend their appreciation to the Deputyship for Research and Innovation, Ministry of Education in Saudi Arabia for funding this research work through the project number ISP23-71.

Funding

The Project is funded by Ministry of Education – Kingdom of Saudi Arabi, Grant no.ISP23-71.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, Jazan University, 45142, Jazan, Saudi Arabia

    Ahmed Abutaleb & Mohd Imran

  2. Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, 342030, India

    Shahzad Ahmed

Authors
  1. Ahmed Abutaleb
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Shahzad Ahmed
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Mohd Imran
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mohd Imran.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The author declares no conflict of interest.

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Abutaleb, A., Ahmed, S. & Imran, M. Synergistic photocatalysis: harnessing WSe2-ZnO nanocomposites for efficient malachite green dye degradation. Eur. Phys. J. Plus 138, 1046 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1140/epjp/s13360-023-04670-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1140/epjp/s13360-023-04670-2

Search

Navigation