A comparative study of the effects of CuO, NiO, ZrO2 and CeO2 coupling on the photocatalytic activity and characteristics of ZnO

-ZnO nanoparticles were coupled with CuO, NiO, ZrO2 and CeO2 in 2: 1 molar ratio by a microwave assisted one pot solution combustion synthesis. Structural, morphological and optical properties of ZnO and coupled oxides were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and Brunauer- Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area analysis. XRD data revealed the presence of two phases in the coupled oxides. Photocatalytic activity of pure ZnO and ZnO coupled oxides was compared for the degradation of 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP) under near UV light (365 nm) irradiation and the rate constant (k) values were calculated from the kinetic studies. The coupled oxide, Zn2Ce with ZnO and CeO2 in 2: 1 molar ratio showed maximum degradation efficiency due to the efficient interparticle electron transfer between ZnO and CeO2.