Preparation of a Phthalocyanine – Nanometal‐Coated Silica Microparticle Conjugate as Heterogeneous Photocatalyst and Investigation of Its Photocatalytic Activity

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Abstract
This work details the preparation and characterization of a tetracarboxyzinc phthalocyanine (ZnTCPc) immobilized onto silica gel coated with gold nanometal (Au@SiO2) and investigates its photocatalytic activity for the first time. The immobilization of ZnTCPc on the Au@SiO 2 surface was performed through pre‐anchorage of cysteine (CSH) via the post‐synthesis method, and then the ZnTCPc was conjugated to the nanometal surface (Au@SiO 2 ) with an amide bond to obtain a heterogeneous photocatalyst (ZnTCPc−Au@SiO 2 ). The prepared photocatalyst (ZnTCPc‐Au@SiO 2 ) were characterized using various spectroscopic techniques such as Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, ultraviolet–visible (UV‐vis) spectrophotometry, and energy dispersive X‐ray (EDX) spectroscopy. Singlet oxygen quantum yields (Φ Δ ) for both ZnTCPc and ZnTCPc‐Au@SiO 2 were calculated, and the photocatalytic activity of the photocatalyst was tested for photodegradation of organic pollutants, namely Orange G (OG) and Methyl orange (MO), in aqueous solutions. The photodegradation process concluded in under 25 min. with a 20 mg dose of the ZnTCPc‐Au@SiO 2 under visible light irradiation for 5 min. intervals in the presence of organic pollutants. The reusability of the photocatalyst was also tested. The results reveal that the photocatalyst (ZnTCPc‐Au@SiO 2 ) has potential for use in the photodegradation of organic pollutants in industrial wastewater.
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  • Gaziantep Üniversitesi

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