Experimental and studies of Co-doped ZnO nanophotocatalyst thin films for dye mineralization.

Pristine ZnO and Co-doped ZnO photocatalyst thin films were fabricated on a ceramic substrate by spray pyrolysis. The optical, morphological and structural properties of the fabricated nanophotocatalyst thin films were analyzed using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Operational parameters, including dye concentration, oxidant concentration, irradiation time and pH for dye degradation, were optimized by response surface methodology (RSM).