Synthesis, characterization, and photocatalytic properties of nanocrystalline NZO thin films

D Aryanto,N Husniya,T Sudiro,E Hastuti,B W Nuryadin

doi:10.1088/1742-6596/985/1/012025

Abstract

Nanocrystalline Ni-doped ZnO (NZO) thin films were synthesized on glass substrate using sol-gel spin coating methods. The effect of annealing on the structural and optical properties of nanocrystalline thin film was studied using X-ray diffractometer (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), UV-VIS spectrophotometry, and photoluminescence (PL). The results showed that the annealing temperature strongly influenced the physical properties of nanocrystalline NZO thin films. The photocatalytic properties of nanocrystalline NZO thin films were evaluated using an aqueous solution of Rhodamine-B. The photocatalytic activity of nanocrystalline NZO thin films increased with the increase of annealing temperature. The results indicated that the structure, morphology, and band gap energy of nanocrystalline NZO thin films played an important role in photocatalytic activity.

Highlights

Photocatalysis based on metal oxide semiconductor has been considered as alternative materials for degrading recalcitrant organic compound in wastewaters [1]
The results showed that the annealing temperature strongly influenced the physical properties of nanocrystalline Ni-doped ZnO (NZO) thin films
The results indicated that the structure, morphology, and band gap energy of nanocrystalline NZO thin films played an important role in photocatalytic activity

Summary

Introduction

Photocatalysis based on metal oxide semiconductor has been considered as alternative materials for degrading recalcitrant organic compound in wastewaters [1]. ZnO is II-VI semiconductor compound with direct wide-band-gap of 3.37 eV and large exciton binding energy of 60 meV at room temperature [3, 11, 12]. It makes ZnO applicable as solar cell [13], laser [14], gas sensors [15], piezoelectric materials [16], and light emitting diodes (LEDs) [17]. Due to its wide band gap, ZnO exhibits photocatalytic activity only under UV light [4, 8, 9] The effect of annealing on the structural, optical, and photocatalytic properties of ZnO thin films was discussed

Experimental details

Results and discussion

Morphological studies

Conclusion