Structure and Photocatalytic Activity of Copper and Carbon-Doped Metallic Zn Phase-Rich ZnO Oxide Films

ZnO is one of the most important industrial metal oxide semiconductors. However, in order to fully realise its potential, the electronic structure of ZnO has to be modified to better fit the needs of specific fields. Recent studies demonstrated that reactive magnetron sputtering under Zn-rich conditions promotes the formation of intrinsic ZnO defects and allows the deposition of metallic Zn phase-rich ZnO films. In photocatalytic efficiency tests these films were superior to traditional ZnO oxide, therefore, the purposeful formation of intrinsic ZnO defects, namely Zn interstitials and oxygen vacancies, can be considered as advantageous self-doping. Considering that such self-doped ZnO remains a semiconductor, the natural question is if it is possible to further improve its properties by adding extrinsic dopants. Accordingly, in the current study, the metallic Zn phase-rich ZnO oxide film formation process (reactive magnetron sputtering) was supplemented by simultaneous sputtering of copper or carbon. Effects of the selected dopants on the structure of self-doped ZnO were investigated by X-ray diffractometer, scanning electron microscope, X-ray photoelectron spectroscope and photoluminescence techniques. Meanwhile, its effect on photocatalytic activity was estimated by visible light activated bleaching of Methylene Blue. It was observed that both dopants modify the microstructure of the films, but only carbon has a positive effect on photocatalytic efficiency.

MOF composites derived BiFeO3@Bi5O7I n-n heterojunction for enhanced photocatalytic performance

BiFeO3 is a photocatalyst with excellent performance. However, its applications are limited due to its wide bandgap. In this paper, MIL-101(Fe)@BiOI composite material is synthesized by hydrothermal method and then calcined at high temperature to obtain BiFeO3@Bi5O7I composite material with high adsorption capacity. Among them, An n-n heterojunction is formed, which improves the efficiency of charge transfer, and the recombination of photo-generated electrons and holes prevents the improvement of photocatalytic efficiency and stability. The result of photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline under visible light irradiation showed, BiFeO3@Bi5O7I (1:2) has the best photodegradation effect, with a removal rate of 86.4%, which proves its potential as a photocatalytic degradation material.

Bi-doped Graphitic Carbon Nitride Nanotubes Boosts the Degradation Photocatalysis of Rhodamine B

Polymeric carbon nitride (PCN) is an emerging metal-free photocatalysts with high stability but is plagued by low photocatalytic efficiency due to the rapid charge carrier recombination behavior. Herein, Bi doped...

Photocatalytic Efficiency of Hybrid Titanium Dioxide Nanowires/Reduced Graphene Oxide (TiO2NWs/RGO) for Degradation of Methyl Orange Dye

The aim of this research is to improve the photocatalytic efficiency by implementation of titanium dioxide nanowires/reduced graphene oxide (TiO2NWs/RGO) hybrid photocatalyst for dye degradation. The hybrid photocatalyst TiO2NWs/RGO was prepared using fabrication method. The physico-chemical properties of the photocatalyst was investigated by FTIR, XRD, SEM TGA, BET and their photocatalytic efficiency was evaluated for methyl orange degradation. Almost 100% of methyl orange was degraded by TiO2NWs/RGO hybrid photocatalyst under UV light within 210 min using 1.0 g at initial concentration of methyl orange were 10 and 20 ppm. This is due to the 1D/2D heterostructures of TiO2NWs/RGO hybrid photocatalyst that leads to the larger surface area, unique morphological and crystallinity properties, as well as excellent mobility of charge carriers and thermally stable structure