Novel meta- and AB-Polybenzimidazole/Zinc oxide polymer hybrid nanomaterials for photocatalytic degradation of organic dyes

Abstract New nanocomposites of m-PBI/ZnO and AB-PBI/ZnO – powders and films, containing 2.5 wt% and 5 wt% ZnO, were prepared using two different approaches: mixing commercial ZnO nanoparticles with dimethylacetamide solution of m-PBI and in situ synthesis of ZnO in alkali-ethanol AB-PBI solution. The photocatalytic activity of the materials prepared was tested for photodegradation under UV-light of model organic dyes pollutants, in aqueous media. The powder catalysts exhibit higher photocatalytic efficiency towards degradation of all three tested dyes, compared to the films. The materials containing 2.5 wt% ZnO are usually more efficient than these with 5 wt% ZnO. The highest degree of degradation (97%) was achieved for Malachite Green dye, using m-PBI/2.5 wt% ZnO powder.