LITERATURE REVIEW
Photocatalysts have been considered as a possible
economical approach for addressing various energy
and environment related challenges. With the
advanced development of nanometer photocatalytic
oxidation technology, new ways can now be created
to solve the rising serious environmental pollution
issues such as soil, air, and water. On the other hand,
nanoparticle research has become an area of a great
scientific interest due to many possible applications
in electronic, biomedical, and optical fields. For the
last one decade, aluminum nanoparticles have been
intensely researched and used mainly because of their
higher reactivity than traditional micron-sized
particles. Aluminum is a block P, Period 3, group 13
element. The morphology of aluminum Nano-
particles is spherical which appear as grey-black or
black powder. Aluminum makes up about 8% of the
Earth’s crust. Aluminum is the third most abundant
element on earth after silicon and oxygen and the
most abundant metal in the earth crust. Aluminum
metal is very reactive and thus exists a wide range of
compounds. It is found combined in more than 270
different minerals.
Thermal annealing is commonly used in optical
applications, which play critical role in enhancing the
properties of the film [6]. Zhao et al [6] investigated
optical and structural properties of Aluminum oxide
thin films especially in the annealing range of 200 to
900o C. Temperature greatly influences the film
structure and optical properties. The studied showed
that for film annealed at low temperature to above
600 oC, the film optical properties including optical
constants and transmittance can be enhanced through
thermal annealing with amorphous structure as well
as smooth surface. But film annealed at extreme
temperature of 900 oC, results in the poor
performance of optical properties hence not suitable
in use for optics applications because of notable
changes in both surface texture and structure. At 600
oC, the transmittance of aluminum oxide is at
maximum, with improved refractive index [6].
Aluminum nanoparticles are impeccable catalysts for
many chemical reactions. Aluminum nanoparticles
are added to solid rocket fuel to enhance the speed of
combustion and sizably increase heat and stability of
combustion. Most importantly, aluminum
nanoparticles can be used in photocatalysts
application. Aluminum oxide nanoparticles have
become a hot topic with many researchers
investigating due to its wider range of application in
various field.
Photocatalysis continues to be one of widely studied
field due to its many possible applications. The
photocatalytic detoxification of wastewater by the
use of both heterogeneous catalysis and solar
technologies [1]. Various photocatalytic materials
including ZnO, CdS, TiO2, Fe2O3 and CuO have
been used effectively to degrade various dyes.
Aluminum nanoparticles can be doped with
photocatalytics elements to enhance the
photocatalytic activity. Zhang et al [4] found that
when zinc oxide based photactalytic activity can be
enhanced greatly by doping it with aluminum. This
has showed great photocatalytic activities, many
times more efficient that before. Nanoparticles with
about 20% Aluminum exhibit great absorption
capacity thus can significantly reduce the
concentration of methyl orange from 200 to 2.7
mg/L and photograde further Methyl Orange within
thirty minutes irradiation. Luo et al [2] studied the
influence of various aluminum slats on the
photocatalytic properties of Al dopes TiO2
nanoparticles towards dye degradation. Based on
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Photocatalysts have been considered as a possible economical

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