Stage 2020:

Stage 3 (2020) is based on the following activities and sub activities:

Activity 3.1. Photocatalysis studies
performing degradation studies of some dyes under visible light irradiation in the presence of hybrid polymer films used as catalysts;
monitoring the evolution over time of the specific dye absorption band using UV spectroscopy;
evaluation of the efficiency of the catalyst in the photodegradation of dyes by complementary techniques such as 1H NMR.

Activity 3.2. Evaluating the performance of the photocatalysts and optimizing their efficiency
selecting the catalysts with the highest performances and perfecting their preparation;
evaluation of the photocatalysis process compared to literature studies;
critical analysis of the obtained results and performance evaluation in order to create new research directions.

Conclusions
The photocatalytic activity tests highlighted that the prepared cube-shaped ZnO-SnO2-based photocatalyst displayed an excellent photocatalytic activity.

In the photodegradation tests of the MO dye in ambient conditions and under irradiation with visible light, the 5% ZnO-Ag1 composite film had a better efficiency than the films only with ZnO used as photocatalyst.
These features recommend the use of such hybrid composite films in the photodegradation of organic dyes and also offer a new approach to develop superior photocatalysts.

Results
The scientific results were disseminated in the form of two papers, one published and one sent for publication, as follows:

1. Photopolymerized Films with ZnO and Doped ZnO Particles Used as Efficient Photocatalysts in Malachite Green Dye Decomposition, Viorica-Elena Podasca, Mariana-Dana Damaceanu, Appl. Sci. 2020, 10(6), 1954; https://doi.org/10.3390/app10061954.

2. ZnO doped Ag polymer composites as photocatalysts for highly efficient visible-light degradation of Methyl Orange, Viorica-Elena Podasca, Mariana-Dana Damaceanu, Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology A: Chemistry (2020) under review.

Final Scientific Report: