Effect of vanadium doping on optical and photocatalytic activity of ZnO nanoparticles

In this work, vanadium-doped zinc oxide nanoparticles are synthesized by the hydrothermal method. A series of nanoparticles is prepared with various doping concentrations of vanadium. The microscopic morphology and particle size of the material are analyzed. The results indicate that the doping notably changes the band gap, charge carrier concentration, Hall coefficient and refractive index of the nanoparticles. Frequency-dependent dielectric constant as well as electric modulus are examined and the results depend on the doping concentration of vanadium also. The photocatalytic properties of the prepared nanoparticles are studied using Congo red and methylene blue dyes. The material has a higher degradation efficiency for Congo red than methylene blue. 99.76 % degradation of Congo red and 41.26 % degradation of methylene blue were observed at 180 min using the prepared nanoparticles. The rate constants and the degradation mechanism as a function of vanadium doping concentration are discussed. • Vanadium-doped zinc oxide nanoparticles are synthesized by the hydrothermal method. • The band gap, charge carrier concentration, Hall coefficient and refractive index of the nanoparticles are examined. • Frequency-dependent dielectric constant and electric modulus are examined and the results depend on the doping concentration of vanadium also. • The photocatalytic properties of the prepared nanoparticles are studied using congo red and methylene blue dyes. • The material has a higher degradation efficiency for congo red than methylene blue. 99.76 % of degradation of congo red and 41.26 % degradation of methylene blue was observed at 180 min using the prepared nanoparticles. • The rate constants and the degradation mechanism as a function of vanadium doping concentration are discussed.