Innovative visible light photocatalytic activity for V-doped ZrO2 structure: optical, morphological, and magnetic properties

A new visible light sensitive photocatalysts based on Zr 1− x V X O 2 ( x = 1, 3, 5, and 7) compositions for treatment of organic dyes in wastewater were investigated. Pure and V-doped ZrO 2 samples were prepared by sol–gel techniques. The XRD results of the pure ZrO 2 confirmed the formation of single phase tetragonal structure. Dopant-induced structure transition from the tetragonal to monoclinic phase. Based on SEM micrographs, mixture of spherical-nanorods architectures was formed in all samples with a volume ratio related to V concentration. Enhanced visible light absorption and an amazing red shift in the absorption edge were noticed in V doped ZrO 2 samples. The magnetic properties of V doped ZrO 2 exhibited room temperature ferromagnetism with varied hysteresis loops shape. Zr 0.97 V 0.03 O 2 structure revealed a notable ferromagnetism with complete saturation magnetization of 0.038 emu/g and coercivity of 1200 Oe. Except Zr 0.93 V 0.07 O 2 structure, all V doped ZrO 2 samples showed significant photocatalytic activity when irradiated with visible light. The highest photocatalytic efficiency, ~100%, for methylene blue (MB) dye degradation was achieved through Zr 0.95 V 0.05 O 2 catalyst under visible light irradiation time of 150 minutes. Vanadium played a major role in oxygen vacancies formation and separation of photo-induced electron–hole pairs which enriched the visible light photocatalytic activity. Highlights Effective visible light photocatalysts based on V-doped ZrO 2 nanostructures were synthesized by sol gel method. Vanadium as dopant induced remarkable red shifts in the band gap energy of ZrO 2 . 3 wt% V-doped ZrO 2 sample exhibited room temperature ferromagnetism with saturation magnetization of 0.038 emu/g and coercivity of 1200 Oe. High photocatalytic activity, ~ 100%, for methylene blue dye degradation was achieved through 5 wt% V doped ZrO 2 catalyst under visible light irradiation for 150 minutes.