ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Enhancing Photocatalytic Degradation
of Methylene Blue Using ZnO/Carbon Dots
Nanocomposite Derived From Coffee Grounds
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Department of Physics, Bogor Agricultural University (IPB University),
Jl. Meranti, Gedung Wing S, Kampus IPB Dramaga, Bogor 16680, Indonesia
Submission date: 2019-12-09
Final revision date: 2020-02-23
Acceptance date: 2020-04-06
Online publication date: 2020-07-31
Publication date: 2020-10-05
Corresponding author
Akhiruddin Maddu
Department of Physics, Bogor Agricultural University, Jalan Meranti, Kampus Dramaga, 16680, Bogor, Indonesia
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2021;30(1):273-282
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ABSTRACT
In this article, we report the enhancement of the photocatalytic activity of ZnO/carbon dots
(CDs) nanocomposite in degrading methylene blue (MB) dye. Carbon dots (CDs) were synthesized
by a hydrothermal method utilizing coffee grounds as a carbon source. ZnO/CDs nanocomposite was
synthesized by a single-step and in-situ sonochemical process. The particle size of CDs measured by
dynamic light scattering (DLS) was found at about 7.7 nm. The result of X-ray diffraction analysis
confirmed that the hexagonal wurtzite structure of ZnO nanoparticle has a small crystal size and the
lattice parameters decreasing due to CDs addition. The surface morphology images were taken by
scanning electron microscopy (SEM) shows a very fine particle both for pure ZnO nanoparticle and
ZnO/CDs nanocomposite. The result of Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (EDXS) analysis
confirmed the presence of the carbon element in the ZnO/CDs nanocomposite indicated that the
nanocomposite has been formed. The result of the photocatalytic test showed that the ZnO/CDs
nanocomposite photocatalyst had significantly increased photocatalytic activity compared to the pure
ZnO nanoparticle photocatalyst. ZnO/CDs nanocomposite photocatalyst resulted in a photodegradation
rate three times higher than pure ZnO nanoparticle photocatalyst and nine times higher than the
photolysis treatment (without photocatalyst). Whereas the degradation efficiency of MB using ZnO/CDs
nanocomposite photocatalyst was twice higher than using pure ZnO nanoparticles and four times higher
than photolysis treatment.