Abstract
A cost-effective solution method was developed to produce ZnO photocatalyst in large quantity, through the conversion of ε-Zn(OH) 2 to ZnO in NaOH solutions. Experimental results indicated that the concentrated NaOH solution (4 mol L −1 ) promoted the rapid formation of ZnO owing to the enhanced dissolution-precipitation reactions. The large-scale synthesis was also achieved with high-yield and solvent-recyclability. Structural analysis based on X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, electron spin resonance and photoluminescence revealed that the as-prepared ZnO photocatalyst was rich in oxygen vacancies (V O ). The V O -rich ZnO photocatalyst exhibited improved visible-light absorption, higher photocurrent responses and superior activities toward the degradation of rhodamine B under both UV (λ~254 nm) and visible-light illumination (λ>420 nm) compared to commercial ZnO and P25 TiO 2 powders, as well as good cycle stability. Based on the results of photoluminescence and active species detection, the V O -enhanced photocatalytic activity was attributed to the generation of V O -isolated level in the band structure. Under UV light, the V O -level could promote charge separation by trapping the photoinduced electrons, while under visible-light, the V O -level improved visible-light absorption and facilitated the charge generation. The presently developed synthesis may potentially benefit the large-scale production and low-cost application of ZnO photocatalyst for solar energy utilization.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1870-1879 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Journal | Ceramics International |
| Volume | 43 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Feb 1 2017 |
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All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
- Ceramics and Composites
- Process Chemistry and Technology
- Surfaces, Coatings and Films
- Materials Chemistry
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Cost-effective large-scale synthesis of oxygen-defective ZnO photocatalyst with superior activities under UV and visible light. / Wang, Jing; Chen, Ruosong; Xia, Yi; Wang, Guifang; Zhao, Hongyuan; Xiang, Lan; Komarneni, Sridhar.
In: Ceramics International, Vol. 43, No. 2, 01.02.2017, p. 1870-1879.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
TY - JOUR
T1 - Cost-effective large-scale synthesis of oxygen-defective ZnO photocatalyst with superior activities under UV and visible light
AU - Wang, Jing
AU - Chen, Ruosong
AU - Xia, Yi
AU - Wang, Guifang
AU - Zhao, Hongyuan
AU - Xiang, Lan
AU - Komarneni, Sridhar
PY - 2017/2/1
Y1 - 2017/2/1
N2 - A cost-effective solution method was developed to produce ZnO photocatalyst in large quantity, through the conversion of ε-Zn(OH) 2 to ZnO in NaOH solutions. Experimental results indicated that the concentrated NaOH solution (4 mol L −1 ) promoted the rapid formation of ZnO owing to the enhanced dissolution-precipitation reactions. The large-scale synthesis was also achieved with high-yield and solvent-recyclability. Structural analysis based on X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, electron spin resonance and photoluminescence revealed that the as-prepared ZnO photocatalyst was rich in oxygen vacancies (V O ). The V O -rich ZnO photocatalyst exhibited improved visible-light absorption, higher photocurrent responses and superior activities toward the degradation of rhodamine B under both UV (λ~254 nm) and visible-light illumination (λ>420 nm) compared to commercial ZnO and P25 TiO 2 powders, as well as good cycle stability. Based on the results of photoluminescence and active species detection, the V O -enhanced photocatalytic activity was attributed to the generation of V O -isolated level in the band structure. Under UV light, the V O -level could promote charge separation by trapping the photoinduced electrons, while under visible-light, the V O -level improved visible-light absorption and facilitated the charge generation. The presently developed synthesis may potentially benefit the large-scale production and low-cost application of ZnO photocatalyst for solar energy utilization.
AB - A cost-effective solution method was developed to produce ZnO photocatalyst in large quantity, through the conversion of ε-Zn(OH) 2 to ZnO in NaOH solutions. Experimental results indicated that the concentrated NaOH solution (4 mol L −1 ) promoted the rapid formation of ZnO owing to the enhanced dissolution-precipitation reactions. The large-scale synthesis was also achieved with high-yield and solvent-recyclability. Structural analysis based on X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, electron spin resonance and photoluminescence revealed that the as-prepared ZnO photocatalyst was rich in oxygen vacancies (V O ). The V O -rich ZnO photocatalyst exhibited improved visible-light absorption, higher photocurrent responses and superior activities toward the degradation of rhodamine B under both UV (λ~254 nm) and visible-light illumination (λ>420 nm) compared to commercial ZnO and P25 TiO 2 powders, as well as good cycle stability. Based on the results of photoluminescence and active species detection, the V O -enhanced photocatalytic activity was attributed to the generation of V O -isolated level in the band structure. Under UV light, the V O -level could promote charge separation by trapping the photoinduced electrons, while under visible-light, the V O -level improved visible-light absorption and facilitated the charge generation. The presently developed synthesis may potentially benefit the large-scale production and low-cost application of ZnO photocatalyst for solar energy utilization.
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U2 - 10.1016/j.ceramint.2016.10.146
DO - 10.1016/j.ceramint.2016.10.146
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85005949793
VL - 43
SP - 1870
EP - 1879
JO - Ceramics International
JF - Ceramics International
SN - 0272-8842
IS - 2
ER -