Tailoring Sb-F doped ZnO nanoparticles for dual-functionality: Photocatalytic and supercapacitor applications

Abstract

In the present work, pure zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs), antimony doped ZnO nanoparticles (Sb-ZnO NPs), fluorine doped ZnO nanoparticles (F-ZnO NPs), and antimony and fluorine co-doped ZnO nanoparticles (Sb/F-ZnO NPs) with various dopant concentrations are synthesized by co-precipitation method. The optical, structural, morphological, photocatalytic, and electrochemical activities of ZnO nanostructures by the influence of Sb and F doping were investigated. XRD showed crystallite size decreased with increasing Sb/F content, while BET showed 64.25 m2/g surface area for ZnO-5 %Sb-10 %F. SEM and TEM images suggesting Sb/F doping changed the ZnO morphology from spherical to bricks-built and nanorod-built flower structures. XPS verified Sb (+3) and F (−1) oxidation states, while absorption spectroscopy showed increased energy bandgap with 5 % Sb and 10 % F doping in ZnO. The photocatalytic activity for mixture of congo red, rhodamine B, and methylene blue are closer to real polluted water. All the samples exhibited good photocatalytic activity for the methylene blue with degradation efficiency reaching to 99 %. At a constant current density of 1 A/g, symmetric supercapacitors utilizing Sb/F-ZnO electrodes exhibited a specific capacitance of 762 Fg−1, underscoring their superior electrochemical performance and potential for advancing energy storage technologies. Further, physiochemical and electrochemical properties of ZnO can be perfectly tuned by the optimal setting for co-doping in ZnO up to 5 % Sb and 10 % F by the co-precipitation approach.