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.