ZnO supported on zeolites: Photocatalyst design, microporosity and properties

• Published in: Colloids and surfaces. A, Physicochemical and engineering aspects Vol. 513; pp. 20 - 27
• Main Authors: Batistela, Vagner Roberto, Fogaça, Leonardo Zavilenski, Fávaro, Silvia Luciana, Caetano, Wilker, Fernandes-Machado, Nádia Regina Camargo, Hioka, Noboru
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 05-01-2017
• Subjects: Photocatalysts; Porosity; Zeolites; Zinc oxide; Zinc oxide; Porosity; Photocatalysts; Zeolites
• ISSN: 0927-7757; 1873-4359
• DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfa.2016.11.023

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•Three ZnO catalysts supported on zeolites were synthesized by the humid impregnation method.•In the larger pore size of zeolites, ZnO was included into the micropores.•BET analysis indicates reduction of specific surface area.•ZnO formed needle-shaped crystallites on NaA zeolite.•Bandgap values of the catalysts in NaA and NaY are close to the pure ZnO.
ZnO was supported in three different zeolites aiming at new photocatalysts. In the zeolite NaA, the crystallization of ZnO was on the external surface while for zeolites NaY and USY it occurred predominantly inside the micropores, as indicated by XRD diffractograms and by transmission electron microscopy. The bandgap and the zero point of charge indicated that the increase in ZnO content approaches these parameters to values of pure oxide. In the catalysts supported on USY, significant changes were not observed in the bandgap values due to the incorporation of ZnO in their micropores. Therefore, each synthesized catalyst has potential applications in heterogeneous photocatalysis.