SYNTHESIS OF PHOTOCATALYTIC NANOMATERIAL ZnCo₂O₄ AND ITS APPLICATION IN CIPROFLOXACIN DEGRADATION UNDER VISIBLE LIGHT

Abstract

This study involved the synthesis of ZnCo₂O₄ nanoparticles using a straightforward co-precipitation
technique. The influence of calcination temperature and dispersion medium on the structure, phase
composition, crystallinity, and photocatalytic activity of the materials was examined. The optimal
circumstances within the survey parameters were identified: a calcination temperature of 400 °C and a
dispersion agent composition of 10 mL polyethylene glycol (PEG) and 4 mL glycerol. Under these
conditions, ZCO400 or ZCO10 materials were synthesized, exhibiting distinctive one-dimensional shape,
homogeneity, and consistent surface distribution (SEM-EDS). The breakdown of ciprofloxacin (cipro) in
ZCO400 and ZCO10 under visible light was over 84% after three hours of exposure, using a catalyst
concentration of 0.5 g/L and a ciprofloxacin concentration of 20 ppm. The quality of the acquired crystals
and the material's favourable optical absorption characteristics contributed to this outcome. The ultraviolet
visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV-Vis-RDS) results indicated that the material had a low band
gap energy of 2.05 eV and effectively absorbs ultraviolet light, while most visible light wavelengths were
below 605 nm.