ABSTRACT
The development of ZnO thin films has been achieved through the conversion of zinc hydroxide carbonate thin-film crystals. Crystallization of this compound is induced by a biomineralization-inspired method with polymer-stabilized amorphous precursors. The crystals grow radially on polymer matrices, leading to the formation of zinc hydroxide carbonate/polymer thin-film hybrids that fully cover the substrate. These hybrids are converted into ZnO and retain their thin-film morphologies. The resultant ZnO thin films exhibit a preferential crystallographic orientation that is attributed to the alignment of zinc hydroxide carbonate crystals before conversion. In addition, a photocatalytic function of the ZnO thin films has been demonstrated by analyzing the oxidation reaction of 2-propanol. The biomineralization-inspired approach reported herein is a promising way to develop ZnO materials with controlled morphologies and structures for photocatalytic applications.
Subject(s)
Carbonates/chemistry , Crystallization/methods , Hydroxides/chemistry , Polymers/chemistry , Zinc Compounds/chemistry , Zinc Oxide/chemistry , 2-Propanol/chemistry , Catalysis , Light , Oxidation-Reduction , Powder Diffraction , X-Ray DiffractionABSTRACT
Gold/silver/titania trilayered nanorods have been prepared by the successive deposition of silver and titania layers on gold nanorod cores, and their photocatalytic activities were investigated under visible-light illumination (λ > 420 nm). The photocatalytic activity of the trilayered nanorods in the oxidation of 2-propanol depends on both the Au/Ag composition and the thickness of the TiO2 shell. It increases with increasing Ag content up to [Au]/[Ag] = 1:5 (molar ratio) and then decreases with further increasing Ag content. The photocatalytic activity also increases with increasing TiO2 shell thickness up to 10 nm and then decreases with further increases in the shell thickness. These effects were explained by electron-transfer and energy-transfer mechanisms.
