Single-step fabrication of ZnO microflower thin films for highly efficient and reusable photocatalytic activity

Singha, MK and Patra, A and Rojwal, V and Deepa, KG (2020) Single-step fabrication of ZnO microflower thin films for highly efficient and reusable photocatalytic activity. In: Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics, 31 (16). pp. 13578-13587.

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Abstract

Zinc oxide microflower thin films were deposited in a single-step process using cost-effective ultrasonic spray pyrolysis technique. Different molarity of precursor solution was used to grow the films. X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy reveal the wurtzite structure of ZnO. Scanning electron microscope images showed the microflower morphology which has a better surface to volume ratio. Defects such as O interstitial and Zn vacancy were identified in these thin films with the help of photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. The contact angle of the films was found to decrease with increase in molarity of the precursor. Photocatalytic activity of three different molar samples (0.05, 0.1 and 0.15 M) of ZnO were studied for methylene blue (MB) degradation and 0.15 M film demonstrated better degradation efficiency under UV�Vis light. Further degradation studies were performed on this film under exposure to natural sunlight. 90 degradation of the dye was observed in both the conditions upon exposure of 3.5 h. Effect of defects, molarity, bandgap and contact angle of ZnO on the photocatalytic performance is discussed. Repeatability studies performed under both UV�Vis and natural sunlight exposures showed only a minor deviation of 1 from the initial degradation efficiency. © 2020, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Publication:	Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics
Publisher:	Springer
Additional Information:	copy right for this article belongs to Springer
Keywords:	Aromatic compounds; Contact angle; Cost effectiveness; Degradation; Efficiency; II-VI semiconductors; Molar concentration; Morphology; Oxide films; Oxide minerals; Photocatalytic activity; Photoluminescence spectroscopy; Scanning electron microscopy; Spray pyrolysis; Ultrasonic applications; Zinc metallography; Zinc oxide; Zinc sulfide, Degradation efficiency; Photocatalytic performance; Precursor solutions; Scanning electrons; Single-step process; Surface-to-volume ratio; Ultrasonic spray pyrolysis technique; Wurtzite structure, Thin films
Department/Centre:	Division of Electrical Sciences > Electrical Communication Engineering Division of Physical & Mathematical Sciences > Instrumentation Appiled Physics
Date Deposited:	29 Oct 2020 11:31
Last Modified:	29 Oct 2020 11:31
URI:	http://eprints.iisc.ac.in/id/eprint/66115

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