Synthesis of ZnO nanorod–nanosheet composite via facile hydrothermal method and their photocatalytic activities under visible-light irradiation

Journal Article · Sat Mar 15 00:00:00 EDT 2014 · Journal of Solid State Chemistry

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JSSC.2013.12.026· OSTI ID:22275859

Tan, Wai Kian ^[1]; Abdul Razak, Khairunisak; Lockman, Zainovia ^[2]; Kawamura, Go; Muto, Hiroyuki ^[1]; Matsuda, Atsunori ^[1]

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1. Department of Electrical and Electronic Information Engineering, Toyohashi University of Technology, Toyohashi, Aichi 441-8580 (Japan)
2. School of Materials and Mineral Resources, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Engineering Campus, 14300 Nibong Tebal, Pulau Pinang (Malaysia)

ZnO composite films consisting of ZnO nanorods and nanosheets were prepared by low-temperature hydrothermal processing at 80 °C on seeded glass substrates. The seed layer was coated on glass substrates by sol–gel dip-coating and pre-heated at 300 °C for 10 min prior to hydrothermal growth. The size of the grain formed after pre-heat treatment was ∼40 nm. A preferred orientation seed layer at the c-axis was obtained, which promoted vertical growth of the ZnO nanorod arrays and formation of the ZnO nanosheets. X-ray diffraction patterns and high-resolution transmission electron microscope (HR-TEM) images confirmed that the ZnO nanorods and nanosheets consist of single crystalline and polycrystalline structures, respectively. Room temperature photoluminescence spectra of the ZnO nanorod–nanosheet composite films exhibited band-edge ultraviolet (UV) and visible emission (blue and green) indicating the formation of ZnO crystals with good crystallinity and are supported by Raman scattering results. The formation of one-dimensional (1D) ZnO nanorod arrays and two-dimensional (2D) ZnO nanosheet films using seeded substrates in a single low-temperature hydrothermal step would be beneficial for realization of device applications that utilize substrates with limited temperature stability. The ZnO nanorods and nanosheets composite structure demonstrated higher photocatalytic activity during degradation of aqueous methylene blue under visible-light irradiation. -- Graphical abstract: Schematic illustration of ZnO nanorod–nanosheet composite structure formation by hydrothermal at low-temperature of 80 °C against time. Highlights: • Novel simultaneous formation of ZnO nanorods and nanosheets composite structure. • Facile single hydrothermal step formation at low-temperature. • Photoluminescence showed ultraviolet and visible emission. • Feasible application on substrates with low temperature stability. • Improved photocatalytic activity under visible-light irradiation.

• OSTI ID: 22275859
• Journal Information: Journal of Solid State Chemistry, Vol. 211, Issue Complete; Other Information: Copyright (c) 2014 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved.; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0022-4596
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC
ORGANIC
PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
FILMS
GLASS
GRAIN ORIENTATION
HEAT TREATMENTS
HYDROTHERMAL SYNTHESIS
IRRADIATION
METHYLENE BLUE
MONOCRYSTALS
NANOSTRUCTURES
PHOTOCATALYSIS
PHOTOLUMINESCENCE
POLYCRYSTALS
RAMAN EFFECT
SPECTRA
STABILITY
SUBSTRATES
TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
X-RAY DIFFRACTION
ZINC OXIDES