Photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine B using zinc oxide/silver nanowire nanocomposite films under UV irradiation

Water pollution from industrial and household waste presents significant
environmental challenges, particularly owing to the widespread use and
toxicity of organic dyes, such as rhodamine B. This study involves the
investigation of the photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine B using
composite films made of zinc oxide (ZnO) and silver nanowires (AgNWs)
under ultraviolet (UV) irradiation. ZnO is recognized for its excellent
photocatalytic properties, while AgNWs are known to enhance electron
mobility and generate reactive oxygen species, leading to improved
photocatalytic efficiency. The ZnO/AgNW composite films were synthesized
by a sol-gel method and characterized by scanning electron microscopy and
energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The results of this study
demonstrate that the proposed composite films achieve 90% degradation
efficiency of rhodamine B within 40 min of UV exposure, which is a
significant improvement over the performance of traditional ZnO
photocatalysts. These findings highlight the potential of the ZnO/AgNW
nanocomposites as simple, efficient, and reusable solutions for water
purification and environmental monitoring applications.