Experimental study of the synergetic effect of ZnO/B₄C nanocomposite to enhance the activity in dye degradation

A common dye used in many different industries, methylene blue is known to remain persistent in wastewater, a common dye used in many different industries, posing serious environmental issues. This experimental work investigates the synergetic effect of a nanocomposite material made with Boron Carbide (B₄C) and Zinc Oxide (ZnO) in improving the degradation of methylene blue dye to address this problem. Incorporating B₄C into the nanocomposite, strengthens the stability and durability of the ZnO photocatalyst, enabling extended and more effective photocatalytic reactions. The ZnO/B₄C nanocomposite was synthesized using a simple and cost-effective co-precipitation method. A 30 ppm Methylene Blue dye solution was used to evaluate the photodegradation efficiency of the photocatalyst. By employing a UV-visible spectrophotometer to measure the dye solution's absorbance variations over time, the degradation process was tracked by exposing the ZnO/B₄C nanocomposite to UV light for two hours (four distinct time intervals). The pure forms of ZnO and B₄C (0.04 g) were subjected to the same experimental protocol as the control samples, and the outcomes were contrasted with those of the produced nanocomposite. Techniques like FTIR, AFM, SEM, and XRD were used to perform structural and morphological investigations. This study highlights the synergetic effect between ZnO and B4C works effectively to enhance photocatalytic efficiency, indicating a workable approach for wastewater treatment techniques.