Study on the Influence of Ni2+ Doping on the Photocatalytic Performance of ZnGa2O4
摘要
The pursuit of photocatalysts is a crucial endeavor in the field of green chemistry with the growing environmental hazards caused by pollutants and organic dyes. Photocatalytic process serves as a cornerstone in addressing urgent environmental challenges, encompassing tasks such as hydrogen generation through water splitting, the reduction of pollutants, and the decomposition of organic dyes. Since d10 electronic configuration semiconductors allow higher mobility of photoexcited electrons, among them Zinc gallate has become a research hotspot because it is a typical spinel compound with two d10 configuration cations. This study specifically investigates the photocatalytic activity of ZnGa2O4 in the decomposition of Rhodamine B and the photolysis of water, which are critical for environmental remediation. Despite the promising potential of ZnGa2O4 in photocatalysis, its wide bandgap presents limitations to light absorption efficiency. In order to solve the above problems, doping Nickel ion with a + 2 charge into ZnGa2O4 to modify it becomes a key strategy, as it can bring additional energy levels to enhance the separation of photogenerated electron-hole pairs, which achieves the result of improving the photocatalytic efficiency, and may also lead to a wider spectral response range and improve the photocatalytic performance of the material in the visible region. Although the relevant research reports on ZnGa2O4 are beginning to take shape, further exploration is still needed, especially regarding the shortening of the ZnGa2O4 bandgap width, with detailed mechanistic insights presented. This study addresses this issue by providing a comprehensive analysis. Ni2+-doped ZnGa2O4 photocatalytic materials were prepared hydrothermally. The characterization technique to confirm the enhanced inherent photocatalytic properties of ZnGa2O4 is then further explained. Finally, an overview of the main challenges facing the field is given and potential directions for future research are highlighted.
Graphical Abstract