A High-Efficiency TiO<sub>2</sub>/ZnO Nano-Film with Surface Oxygen Vacancies for Dye Degradation
Photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants in water is a highly efficient and green approach. However, the low quantum efficiency is an intractable obstacle to lower the photocatalytic efficiency of photocatalysts. Herein, the TiO<sub>2</sub>/ZnO heterojunction thin films combined...
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2021-06-01
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| author | Huizhong Ma Baofei Hao Wentao Song Jinpeng Guo Mingyuan Li Lan Zhang |
| author_facet | Huizhong Ma Baofei Hao Wentao Song Jinpeng Guo Mingyuan Li Lan Zhang |
| author_sort | Huizhong Ma |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants in water is a highly efficient and green approach. However, the low quantum efficiency is an intractable obstacle to lower the photocatalytic efficiency of photocatalysts. Herein, the TiO<sub>2</sub>/ZnO heterojunction thin films combined with surface oxygen vacancies (OVs) were prepared through magnetron sputtering, which was designed to drive rapid bulk and surface separation of charge carriers. The morphology and structural and compositional properties of films were investigated via different techniques such as SEM, XRD, Raman, AFM, and XPS. It has been found that by controlling the O<sub>2</sub>/Ar ratio, the surface morphology, thickness, chemical composition, and crystal structure can be regulated, ultimately enhancing the photocatalytic performance of the TiO<sub>2</sub>/ZnO heterostructures. In addition, the heterojunction thin film showed improved photocatalytic properties compared with the other nano-films when the outer TiO<sub>2</sub> layer was prepared at an O<sub>2</sub>/Ar ratio of 10:35. It degraded 88.0% of Rhodamine B (RhB) in 90 min and 90.8% of RhB in 120 min. This was attributed to the heterojunction interface and surface OVs, which accelerated the separation of electron–hole (e–h) pairs. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T10:24:43Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b16ed2d240c34cc3bb27ecbfc6ce98b6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1944 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T10:24:43Z |
| publishDate | 2021-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Materials |
| spelling | doaj.art-b16ed2d240c34cc3bb27ecbfc6ce98b62023-11-22T00:08:19ZengMDPI AGMaterials1996-19442021-06-011412329910.3390/ma14123299A High-Efficiency TiO<sub>2</sub>/ZnO Nano-Film with Surface Oxygen Vacancies for Dye DegradationHuizhong Ma0Baofei Hao1Wentao Song2Jinpeng Guo3Mingyuan Li4Lan Zhang5School of Mechanics and Safety Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, ChinaSchool of Mechanics and Safety Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, ChinaSchool of Mechanics and Safety Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, ChinaSchool of Mechanics and Safety Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, ChinaSchool of Mechanics and Safety Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, ChinaSchool of Mechanics and Safety Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, ChinaPhotocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants in water is a highly efficient and green approach. However, the low quantum efficiency is an intractable obstacle to lower the photocatalytic efficiency of photocatalysts. Herein, the TiO<sub>2</sub>/ZnO heterojunction thin films combined with surface oxygen vacancies (OVs) were prepared through magnetron sputtering, which was designed to drive rapid bulk and surface separation of charge carriers. The morphology and structural and compositional properties of films were investigated via different techniques such as SEM, XRD, Raman, AFM, and XPS. It has been found that by controlling the O<sub>2</sub>/Ar ratio, the surface morphology, thickness, chemical composition, and crystal structure can be regulated, ultimately enhancing the photocatalytic performance of the TiO<sub>2</sub>/ZnO heterostructures. In addition, the heterojunction thin film showed improved photocatalytic properties compared with the other nano-films when the outer TiO<sub>2</sub> layer was prepared at an O<sub>2</sub>/Ar ratio of 10:35. It degraded 88.0% of Rhodamine B (RhB) in 90 min and 90.8% of RhB in 120 min. This was attributed to the heterojunction interface and surface OVs, which accelerated the separation of electron–hole (e–h) pairs.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/12/3299photocatalysisZnO/TiO<sub>2</sub>heterojunction thin filmsoxygen vacancies |
| spellingShingle | Huizhong Ma Baofei Hao Wentao Song Jinpeng Guo Mingyuan Li Lan Zhang A High-Efficiency TiO<sub>2</sub>/ZnO Nano-Film with Surface Oxygen Vacancies for Dye Degradation Materials photocatalysis ZnO/TiO<sub>2</sub> heterojunction thin films oxygen vacancies |
| title | A High-Efficiency TiO<sub>2</sub>/ZnO Nano-Film with Surface Oxygen Vacancies for Dye Degradation |
| title_full | A High-Efficiency TiO<sub>2</sub>/ZnO Nano-Film with Surface Oxygen Vacancies for Dye Degradation |
| title_fullStr | A High-Efficiency TiO<sub>2</sub>/ZnO Nano-Film with Surface Oxygen Vacancies for Dye Degradation |
| title_full_unstemmed | A High-Efficiency TiO<sub>2</sub>/ZnO Nano-Film with Surface Oxygen Vacancies for Dye Degradation |
| title_short | A High-Efficiency TiO<sub>2</sub>/ZnO Nano-Film with Surface Oxygen Vacancies for Dye Degradation |
| title_sort | high efficiency tio sub 2 sub zno nano film with surface oxygen vacancies for dye degradation |
| topic | photocatalysis ZnO/TiO<sub>2</sub> heterojunction thin films oxygen vacancies |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/12/3299 |
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