Si Nanocrystals/ZnO Nanowires Hybrid Structures as Immobilized Photocatalysts for Photodegradation
Numerous semiconductor-based hybrid nanostructures have been studied for improved photodegradation performance resulting from their broadband optical response and enhanced charge separation/transport characteristics. However, these hybrid structures often involve elements that are rare or toxic. Her...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-03-01
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| Series: | Nanomaterials |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/10/3/491 |
| _version_ | 1818176977286201344 |
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| author | Yaozhong Zhang Rajib Mandal Daniel C. Ratchford Rebecca Anthony Junghoon Yeom |
| author_facet | Yaozhong Zhang Rajib Mandal Daniel C. Ratchford Rebecca Anthony Junghoon Yeom |
| author_sort | Yaozhong Zhang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Numerous semiconductor-based hybrid nanostructures have been studied for improved photodegradation performance resulting from their broadband optical response and enhanced charge separation/transport characteristics. However, these hybrid structures often involve elements that are rare or toxic. Here, we present the synthesis and material characterization of hybrid nanostructures consisting of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanowires (NWs) and silicon nanocrystals (Si-NCs), both abundant and environmentally benign, and evaluate them for photodegradation performance under various illumination conditions. When incorporating Si-NCs into the vertically-aligned ZnO NWs immobilized on substrates, the resulting photocatalysts exhibited a narrowed band gap, i.e., more responsive to visible light, and enhanced charge separation at the interface, i.e., more reactive species produced for degradation. Consequently, the hybrid Si-NCs/ZnO-NWs displayed a superior photodegradability for methylene blue under UV and white light in comparison to the pristine ZnO NWs. Based on the optical measurements, we hypothesize the band structures of Si-NCs/ZnO-NWs and the potential mechanism for the improved photodegradability. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T20:24:45Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e952b23f3f984cfc8929b9d617f212a0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2079-4991 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T20:24:45Z |
| publishDate | 2020-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nanomaterials |
| spelling | doaj.art-e952b23f3f984cfc8929b9d617f212a02022-12-22T00:51:59ZengMDPI AGNanomaterials2079-49912020-03-0110349110.3390/nano10030491nano10030491Si Nanocrystals/ZnO Nanowires Hybrid Structures as Immobilized Photocatalysts for PhotodegradationYaozhong Zhang0Rajib Mandal1Daniel C. Ratchford2Rebecca Anthony3Junghoon Yeom4Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48823, USADepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USACode 6178, Chemistry Division, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC 20375, USADepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USADepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USANumerous semiconductor-based hybrid nanostructures have been studied for improved photodegradation performance resulting from their broadband optical response and enhanced charge separation/transport characteristics. However, these hybrid structures often involve elements that are rare or toxic. Here, we present the synthesis and material characterization of hybrid nanostructures consisting of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanowires (NWs) and silicon nanocrystals (Si-NCs), both abundant and environmentally benign, and evaluate them for photodegradation performance under various illumination conditions. When incorporating Si-NCs into the vertically-aligned ZnO NWs immobilized on substrates, the resulting photocatalysts exhibited a narrowed band gap, i.e., more responsive to visible light, and enhanced charge separation at the interface, i.e., more reactive species produced for degradation. Consequently, the hybrid Si-NCs/ZnO-NWs displayed a superior photodegradability for methylene blue under UV and white light in comparison to the pristine ZnO NWs. Based on the optical measurements, we hypothesize the band structures of Si-NCs/ZnO-NWs and the potential mechanism for the improved photodegradability.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/10/3/491zinc oxide nanowiressilicon nanocrystalshybrid nanostructuresphotodegradationphotoluminescence |
| spellingShingle | Yaozhong Zhang Rajib Mandal Daniel C. Ratchford Rebecca Anthony Junghoon Yeom Si Nanocrystals/ZnO Nanowires Hybrid Structures as Immobilized Photocatalysts for Photodegradation Nanomaterials zinc oxide nanowires silicon nanocrystals hybrid nanostructures photodegradation photoluminescence |
| title | Si Nanocrystals/ZnO Nanowires Hybrid Structures as Immobilized Photocatalysts for Photodegradation |
| title_full | Si Nanocrystals/ZnO Nanowires Hybrid Structures as Immobilized Photocatalysts for Photodegradation |
| title_fullStr | Si Nanocrystals/ZnO Nanowires Hybrid Structures as Immobilized Photocatalysts for Photodegradation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Si Nanocrystals/ZnO Nanowires Hybrid Structures as Immobilized Photocatalysts for Photodegradation |
| title_short | Si Nanocrystals/ZnO Nanowires Hybrid Structures as Immobilized Photocatalysts for Photodegradation |
| title_sort | si nanocrystals zno nanowires hybrid structures as immobilized photocatalysts for photodegradation |
| topic | zinc oxide nanowires silicon nanocrystals hybrid nanostructures photodegradation photoluminescence |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/10/3/491 |
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