Synthesis, Characterization, and Photocatalytic Performance of ZnO–Graphene Nanocomposites: A Review
ZnO is an exciting material for photocatalysis applications due to its high activity, easy accessibility of raw materials, low production costs, and nontoxic. Several ZnO nano and microstructures can be obtained, such as nanoparticles, nanorods, micro flowers, microspheres, among others, depending o...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2020-12-01
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| Series: | Journal of Composites Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2504-477X/5/1/4 |
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| author | Elim Albiter Aura S. Merlano Elizabeth Rojas José M. Barrera-Andrade Ángel Salazar Miguel A. Valenzuela |
| author_facet | Elim Albiter Aura S. Merlano Elizabeth Rojas José M. Barrera-Andrade Ángel Salazar Miguel A. Valenzuela |
| author_sort | Elim Albiter |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ZnO is an exciting material for photocatalysis applications due to its high activity, easy accessibility of raw materials, low production costs, and nontoxic. Several ZnO nano and microstructures can be obtained, such as nanoparticles, nanorods, micro flowers, microspheres, among others, depending on the preparation method and conditions. ZnO is a wide bandgap semiconductor presenting massive recombination of the generated charge carriers, limiting its photocatalytic efficiency and stability. It is common to mix it with metal, metal oxide, sulfides, polymers, and nanocarbon-based materials to improve its photocatalytic behavior. Therefore, ZnO–nanocarbon composites formation has been a viable alternative that leads to new, more active, and stable photocatalytic systems. Mainly, graphene is a well-known two-dimensional material, which could be an excellent candidate to hybridize with ZnO due to its excellent physical and chemical properties (e.g., high specific surface area, optical transmittance, and thermal conductivity, among others). This review analyses ZnO–graphene nanocomposites’ recent advances, addressing the synthesis methods and the resulting structural, morphological, optical, and electronic properties. Moreover, we examine the ZnO–graphene composites’ role in the photocatalytic degradation of organic/inorganic pollutants. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T13:45:53Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-cf233bc9b27b421eaeb608f0f843ffc7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2504-477X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T13:45:53Z |
| publishDate | 2020-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Composites Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-cf233bc9b27b421eaeb608f0f843ffc72023-11-21T02:36:31ZengMDPI AGJournal of Composites Science2504-477X2020-12-0151410.3390/jcs5010004Synthesis, Characterization, and Photocatalytic Performance of ZnO–Graphene Nanocomposites: A ReviewElim Albiter0Aura S. Merlano1Elizabeth Rojas2José M. Barrera-Andrade3Ángel Salazar4Miguel A. Valenzuela5Laboratory de Catálisis y Materiales, ESIQIE-Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Zacatenco, Ciudad de México 07738, MexicoGrupo de Óptica y Espectroscopía (GOE), Centro de Ciencia Básica, Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana, Medellín 050031, ColombiaÁrea de Ingeniería Química, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Iztapalapa, Iztapalapa, Ciudad de México 09340, MexicoLaboratory de Catálisis y Materiales, ESIQIE-Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Zacatenco, Ciudad de México 07738, MexicoGrupo de Óptica y Espectroscopía (GOE), Centro de Ciencia Básica, Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana, Medellín 050031, ColombiaLaboratory de Catálisis y Materiales, ESIQIE-Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Zacatenco, Ciudad de México 07738, MexicoZnO is an exciting material for photocatalysis applications due to its high activity, easy accessibility of raw materials, low production costs, and nontoxic. Several ZnO nano and microstructures can be obtained, such as nanoparticles, nanorods, micro flowers, microspheres, among others, depending on the preparation method and conditions. ZnO is a wide bandgap semiconductor presenting massive recombination of the generated charge carriers, limiting its photocatalytic efficiency and stability. It is common to mix it with metal, metal oxide, sulfides, polymers, and nanocarbon-based materials to improve its photocatalytic behavior. Therefore, ZnO–nanocarbon composites formation has been a viable alternative that leads to new, more active, and stable photocatalytic systems. Mainly, graphene is a well-known two-dimensional material, which could be an excellent candidate to hybridize with ZnO due to its excellent physical and chemical properties (e.g., high specific surface area, optical transmittance, and thermal conductivity, among others). This review analyses ZnO–graphene nanocomposites’ recent advances, addressing the synthesis methods and the resulting structural, morphological, optical, and electronic properties. Moreover, we examine the ZnO–graphene composites’ role in the photocatalytic degradation of organic/inorganic pollutants.https://www.mdpi.com/2504-477X/5/1/4ZnOgraphenecompositesphotocatalysispollutant degradation |
| spellingShingle | Elim Albiter Aura S. Merlano Elizabeth Rojas José M. Barrera-Andrade Ángel Salazar Miguel A. Valenzuela Synthesis, Characterization, and Photocatalytic Performance of ZnO–Graphene Nanocomposites: A Review Journal of Composites Science ZnO graphene composites photocatalysis pollutant degradation |
| title | Synthesis, Characterization, and Photocatalytic Performance of ZnO–Graphene Nanocomposites: A Review |
| title_full | Synthesis, Characterization, and Photocatalytic Performance of ZnO–Graphene Nanocomposites: A Review |
| title_fullStr | Synthesis, Characterization, and Photocatalytic Performance of ZnO–Graphene Nanocomposites: A Review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Synthesis, Characterization, and Photocatalytic Performance of ZnO–Graphene Nanocomposites: A Review |
| title_short | Synthesis, Characterization, and Photocatalytic Performance of ZnO–Graphene Nanocomposites: A Review |
| title_sort | synthesis characterization and photocatalytic performance of zno graphene nanocomposites a review |
| topic | ZnO graphene composites photocatalysis pollutant degradation |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2504-477X/5/1/4 |
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