Solution Combustion Synthesis of Nano ZnWO4 Photocatalyst

ZnWO4 nanopowder photocatalyst has been successfully prepared by a simple solution combustion synthesis using Zn(NO3)2.6H2O as oxidizer, sucrose as reducing agent and peroxo tungstic acid as tungsten source. The as prepared nanopowder was characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and photoluminescence (PL) techniques. The PXRD analysis revealed the formation of pure ZnWO4 monoclinic phase. The crystallite sizes calculated using Scherrer equation are in the range 20–30 nm. SEM images exhibit highly porous nature of the product. BET surface area analysis of ZnWO4 nanopowder shows large specific surface area of 19.20 m2 .g–1. Photocatalytic activities of as synthesized powder were investigated by the degradation of methylene blue (MB) solution under UV light irradiation.