A fast and facile microwave irradiation method for the synthesis of ZnO@ZrO 2 core-shell nanocomposites and the investigation of their optical properties

Abstract ZnO@ZrO 2 core-shell nanocomposites (NCs) were prepared by a novel and accessible path employing microwave (MW) irradiation to regulate photocatalytic property of ZnO. The synthesized ZnO@ZrO 2 NCs were further examined to discern their optical and chemical properties by FT-IR, XPS, XRF, XRD, FE-SEM, EDX, TEM, UV–vis, and PL analysis. XPS data analysis confirmed the presence of zirconium and oxygen on the coated surface. An almost similar zeta potential curve was observed for the pure ZrO 2 and ZrO 2 coated ZnO NCs, predicting the presence of the ZrO 2 layer on ZnO. Photoluminescence studies show the enhanced intensity of ZnO@ZrO 2 nanostructure compared to uncoated ZnO. Photocatalytic activity of ZnO could be controlled by the amorphous ZrO 2 layer, which was guaranteed by the photo mineralization of methylene blue under UV irradiation at room temperature.