Synthesis and study of the structure and properties of photocatalytic nanocomposites of the Cu/ZnO-ZnCr₂O₄ system 

Evstropyev S.K., Shelemanov A.A., Nikonorov N.V., Karavaeva A.V., Dukelskii K.V., Polischuk G.S., Gavrilova M.A., Portnova K.A., Bagrov I.V. Synthesis and study of the structure and properties of photocatalytic nanocomposites of the Cu/ZnO-ZnCr₂O₄ system. Scientific and Technical Journal of Information Technologies, Mechanics and Optics, 2025, vol. 25, no. 2, pp. 199–211 (in Russian). doi: 10.17586/2226-1494-2025-25-2-199-211

Currently, the development of new nanocomposite materials with improved photocatalytic and antibacterial properties is a topical task for environmentally friendly technologies for water and air purification. This paper presents the results of a study of ZnO-ZnCr₂O₄ and Cu/ZnO-ZnCr₂O₄ powder nanocomposites obtained by the polymer-salt method. For the synthesis of nanocomposites, zinc and chromium nitrate solutions with the addition of polyvinylpyrrolidone as a soluble organic polymer were used. The structure and morphology of the nanocomposites were studied by XRD analysis and electron microscopy, optical and luminescent properties - using spectroscopic methods. As a result of heat treatment at 550 °С, dispersed powders of nanocomposites were obtained, consisting of particles several micrometers in size, including hexagonal ZnO nanocrystals with an average size about16 nm and ZnCr₂O₄ spinel crystals. In the luminescence spectrum of the Cu/ZnO-ZnCr₂O₄ composite in the visible region, fluorescence bands are observed characteristic of ZnCr₂O₄ crystals and structural defects of ZnO crystals. It was found that the intensity of singlet oxygen photogeneration by the Cu/ZnO-ZnCr₂O₄ nanocomposite linearly depends on the power density of the exciting radiation (the wavelength is 405 nm). Antibacterial activity of the Cu/ZnO-ZnCr₂O₄ nanocomposite against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 209P bacteria was also revealed. The obtained nanocomposite powders can be used in water and air purification and disinfection systems.

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