Enhancement of Photocatalytic Activity for Nanostructured ZnO Thin Film Prepared by Pulsed Spray Pyrolysis

Obaida, Mohamed; Moussa, Ibarhim; Hassan, Shimaa; Afify, Hassan; Abouelsayed, Ahmed

doi:10.21608/ejchem.2019.19253.2181

Enhancement of Photocatalytic Activity for Nanostructured ZnO Thin Film Prepared by Pulsed Spray Pyrolysis

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Solid State Physics Department, Physics Division, National Research Centre, 33 El Bohouth st. (former El Tahrir st.) - Dokki - Giza - P.O. 12622 - Egypt.

² Spectroscopy Department, Physics Division, National Research Centre, 33 El Bohouth st. (former El Tahrir St.) - Dokki - Giza - P.O. 12622 - Egypt.

10.21608/ejchem.2019.19253.2181

Abstract

Simple pulsed spray pyrsolysis (PSP) technique is used to prepare pure nanostructured zinc oxide (ZnO) thin films at different deposition temperatures and spraying times on glass substrates. XRD measurements show polycrystalline ZnO hexagonal wurtzite phase preferably oriented perpendicular through c- axis along (002) plane. SEM images demonstrate the formation of highly ordered hexagonal nanorods with a crystallite sizes ranged from 40 to 500 nm depending on the film thickness. Optical measurements show transmittance of nearly 90% at low thicknesses (189.1µm) and about 60% for higher thickness (233.8 µm) with a calculated energy band gap values spanning from 2.85 to 3.20 eV. Photocatalytic activity is performed on selected ZnO samples have highly oriented nanorods with large hexagonal cross-section area. Photocatalytic activity takes place on etched and as prepared ZnO film samples by monitoring photodegradation process of methylene blue MB using double beam spectrophotometer. Etched samples show higher photo activity than non- etched ones.

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