Synthesis of GaN:ZnO solid solution by solution combustion method and characterization for photocatalytic application
- Crystal Growth Centre, Anna University, Chennai-600025 (India)
- Material Science Division, Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam 603102 (India)
GaN-ZnO solid solution has emerged as a successful and reproducible photocatalyst for overall water splitting by one-step photoexcitation, with a bandgap in visible region. When the solid solution is formed, some of the Zn and O ions are replaced by Ga and N ions respectively and there is a narrowing of bandgap which is hypothesized as due to Zn3d-N2p repulsion. The traditional method of synthesis of GaN-ZnO solid solution is by nitridation of the starting oxides under constant ammonia flow. Here we report a solution combustion technique for the synthesis of the solid solution at a temperature about 500 ° C in a muffle furnace with metal nitrates as precursors and urea as the fuel. The as prepared samples showed change in color with the increased concentration of ZnO in the solution. The structural, microstructural, morphological and optical properties of the samples were realized by Powder X ray diffraction, Scanning electron microscopy, Energy dispersive X ray analysis, Transmission electron microscopy and Photoluminescence. Finally the hydrogen production efficiency of the GaN-ZnO nanopowders by water splitting was found, using methanol as a scavenger. The apparent quantum yield (AQY) of 0.048% is obtained for GaN-ZnO solid solution.
- OSTI ID:
- 22606276
- Journal Information:
- AIP Conference Proceedings, Vol. 1731, Issue 1; Conference: DAE solid state physics symposium 2015, Uttar Pradesh (India), 21-25 Dec 2015; Other Information: (c) 2016 Author(s); Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0094-243X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
COMBUSTION
GALLIUM NITRIDES
MICROSTRUCTURE
NANOSTRUCTURES
NITROGEN IONS
OXYGEN IONS
PHOTOCATALYSIS
PHOTOLUMINESCENCE
SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
SOLID SOLUTIONS
TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
X RADIATION
X-RAY DIFFRACTION
ZINC OXIDES