Magnesium doped zinc oxide nanocrystals for photo-catalytic applications

Pure and magnesium doped zinc oxide nanocrystals were synthesized in one molar concentration using zinc acetate dihydrate as starting material by wet chemical method. The prepared nanocrystals were annealed at 350 °C. The impact of addition of different concentrations of magnesium dopant on structural, optical property, surface morphology, and photo-catalytic activity was analyzed and photo-catalytic degradation of methylene blue by pure ZnO and Mg doped ZnO nanocrystals was analyzed in terms of different reaction parameters viz., reaction time, amount of catalyst and concentration of dye were investigated. The results are interpreted in view with the crystallite size and influence of dopant metal. The obtained results reveal that Mg-doping enhances the photo-catalytic performance.