Laddered type-1 heterojunction: Harvesting full-solar-spectrum in scavenger free photocatalysis

Lopis, AD and Choudhari, KS and Sai, R and Kanakikodi, KS and Maradur, SP and Shivashankar, SA and Kulkarni, SD (2022) Laddered type-1 heterojunction: Harvesting full-solar-spectrum in scavenger free photocatalysis. In: Solar Energy, 240 . pp. 57-68.

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Abstract

Preparation of scavenger free, solar photocatalyst is challenging for large-scale dye-degradation. We report for the first time, a novel solar photocatalyst with laddered type-1 heterojunction. Photocatalyst was realised by selective deposition of a fine ZnO shell onto nanospherical, mesoporous zinc ferrite core using a special two-step microwave-assisted-solvothermal-technique. Synthesis and processing conditions were tuned to harvest entire solar spectrum owing to oxygen vacancies. Under direct sunlight our photocatalyst completely degraded Rhodamine-B without the need for hole scavenger. Scavenging and probing-tests implied the participation of hydroxyl, and superoxide-radicals for Rhodamine-B degradation. NIR light absorption played a vital role in the photodegradation along with the laddered transitions enabled by well positioned bands that avoid recombination. The catalyst was tested for the reproducible activity upto 5 reuse cycles without loss of significant activity. Our approach utilizes (i) direct sunlight (ii) relatively inexpensive and (iii) reusable materials for scavenger free dye degradation and encourages a viable route for ideal solar-photocatalyst. © 2022 International Solar Energy Society

Item Type:	Journal Article
Publication:	Solar Energy
Publisher:	Elsevier Ltd
Additional Information:	The copyright for this article belongs to the Elsevier Ltd.
Keywords:	Core shell nanoparticles; II-VI semiconductors; Light absorption; Photocatalysis; Shells (structures); Solar radiation; Synthesis (chemical); Zinc oxide, Advanced Oxidation Processes; Core-shell nanoparticles; Dye degradation; Large-scales; Microwave assisted synthesis; Rhodamine-B; Selective deposition; Solar photocatalyst; Solar spectrum; ZnO shells, Heterojunctions, catalysis; ferrite; oxidation; photodegradation; solar power
Department/Centre:	Division of Interdisciplinary Sciences > Centre for Nano Science and Engineering
Date Deposited:	30 Sep 2022 12:09
Last Modified:	30 Sep 2022 12:09
URI:	https://eprints.iisc.ac.in/id/eprint/76871

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