ZnO nanoparticles dispersed poly(aniline‐co‐o‐anthranilic acid) composites: Photocatalytic reduction of Cr(VI) and Ni(II)

In this report, poly(aniline‐co‐anthranilic acid)/zinc oxide (poly(ANI‐co‐ANA)/ZnO) nanocomposites were prepared by in‐situ chemical oxidative polymerization. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X‐ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy measurements were used to characterize the resulting pure copolymer and nanocomposite. TEM analysis showed that the nanoparticles with a mean diameter of 15–25 nm were dispersed in the copolymer matrix. Thermogravimetric analysis indicated that the nanocomposite had a higher decomposition temperature than the pure copolymer. The conductivity measurements showed the resulting nanocomposite possessed higher conductivity as compared to the pure copolymer. Photocatalytic removal of Cr(VI) and Ni(II) from aqueous solution using as‐synthesized nanocomposite under UV‐light irradiation was studied. The reduction patterns of Cr(VI) and Ni(II) were better fitted to first‐order kinetic model. The nanocomposite was also applied as a photocatalyst for the degradation of methylene blue dye. The result revealed substantial degradation of the dye (∼82%) under UV‐light illumination. POLYM. COMPOS., 35:839–846, 2014. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers