Evaluation of ZnO/Carbon Xerogel Composite as a Photocatalyst for Solar and Visible Light Degradation of the Rhodamine B Dye.

This study is focused on the evaluation of the Rhodamine B photodegradation using ZnO/carbon xerogel composite as a photocatalyst, in order to enhance the photocatalytic process efficiency under visible light. The proposed synthesis employs tannin as a precursor for the carbon xerogel, which enhances the economic and environmental aspect of the composite. The synthesized materials have the hexagonal structure of the zinc oxide (wurtzite), which is homogeneously distributed on the carbonaceous matrix.