Intensification of photodecomposition of organics contaminations by nanostructured ZnO-SnO2 coatings prepared by polymer-salt method

Abstract

The article presents the study of the synthesis and characterization of nanostructured transparent ZnO-SnO2 coatings for the intensification of photodecomposition of organic contaminations. Thin transparent coatings were prepared on the glass surface by a polymer-salt method. Mixed oxide coatings were studied by spectroscopic and luminescent methods, SEM, XRD and DSC –TG analysis and their photocatalytic activities were tested. The coatings consist of small closely packed oriented oxide nanocrystals fully covering the substrate surface. Prepared mixed oxide coatings are high transparent in the visible spectral range, able to generate singlet oxygen under UV irradiation and demonstrate photoluminescence and high photocatalytic properties. Simple and low-cost polymer-salt method provides the fabrication homogeneous and transparent photocatalytic oxide coatings significantly accelerating photodecomposition of organic contaminations.