Photocatalytic activity of ZnO/NiO nano-heterojunction synthesized by modified-chemical bath deposition

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Abstract
We report on an affordable, simple, and efficient technique to synthesize ZnO/NiO nanoheterostructure films for the photo-decolorization of methylene blue (MB) dye. Two chemical bath deposition (CBD) routes were adopted: traditional CBD and modified CBD (M-CBD). The nanostructure films were evaluated using different tools: x-ray diffraction (XRD), field-emission scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy. A hexagonal-phase ZnO structure by both routes was revealed by the XRD curves. Flower-like nanosheets with a thickness of 37.96 nm–51.36 nm and 44.66–60.29 nm were realized by CBD and M-CBD, respectively. Besides, the energy gap of the nano junction prepared by M-CBD was expanded to 3.62 eV compared to 3.21 eV in that of CBD. However, after 150 min of sunlight exposure, the photocatalytic efficiencies of the film prepared using the CBD and M-CBD techniques were estimated to be 90% and 95%, respectively. Accordingly, the results of the modified technique confirm the appreciable photocatalytic activity for the decolorization of MB.
Funding Information
  • Department of Physics / College of Science at the Mustansiriyah University

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