Band gap-engineered ZnO and Ag/ZnO by ball-milling method and their photocatalytic and Fenton-like photocatalytic activities

•Ag/ZnO hybrid materials were prepared by a ball-milling method.•Adsorption and photocatalytic dye degradation were tested for pure RhB under visible light.•Adsorption and photocatalytic dye degradation were tested for mixed dye (MO+RhB+MB) under visible light.•Fenton-like photocatalytic activity (H2O2 addition effects) was examined. The hybridization of ZnO with Ag has been performed extensively to increase the efficiency of ZnO in various applications, including catalysis. In this study, a wet (w) and dry (d) ball-milling method was used to hybridize Ag with ZnO nanoparticles, and their physicochemical properties were examined. Visible light absorption was enhanced and the band gap was engineered by ball-milling and Ag hybridization. Their photocatalytic activities were tested with rhodamine B (RhB) and a mixed dye (methyl orange+RhB+methylene blue) under visible light irradiation. For pure RhB, the photocatalytic activity was decreased by ball-milling and was observed in the order of ZnO(d)