Simplistic wet-chemical coalescence of ZnO with Al2O3 and SnO2 for enhanced photocatalytic and electrochemical performance

A wet-chemical route for the development of Al 2 O 3 –ZnO and SnO 2 –ZnO hierarchical heterostructures (HHSs) was opted to enhance the photocatalytic and electrochemical properties of SnO 2 and Al 2 O 3 nanoparticles. Successful coalescence of ZnO hierarchical structure with Al 2 O 3 and SnO 2 signi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Journal of materials science. Materials in electronics Vol. 30; no. 15; pp. 14508 - 14518
Main Authors:	Naeem, Hafiz Muhammad, Muhyuddin, Mohsin, Rasheed, Raheela, Noor, Ayesha, Akram, Muhammad Aftab, Aashiq, Muhammad Naeem, Basit, Muhammad Abdul
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	New York Springer US 01-08-2019 Springer Nature B.V
Subjects:	Aluminum oxide Catalytic activity Characterization and Evaluation of Materials Charge transfer Chemistry and Materials Science Coalescing Current carriers Electrochemical analysis Electrolytes Electrolytic cells Heterostructures Materials Science Nanoparticles Optical and Electronic Materials Organic chemistry Photocatalysis Photovoltaic cells Polysulfides Quantum dots Solar cells Spectrum analysis Structural hierarchy Tin dioxide Ultraviolet radiation Zinc oxide
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Summary:	A wet-chemical route for the development of Al 2 O 3 –ZnO and SnO 2 –ZnO hierarchical heterostructures (HHSs) was opted to enhance the photocatalytic and electrochemical properties of SnO 2 and Al 2 O 3 nanoparticles. Successful coalescence of ZnO hierarchical structure with Al 2 O 3 and SnO 2 significantly increased the degradation of Congo red dye under ultraviolet irradiation. More importantly, SnO 2 –ZnO HHS exhibited superior photocatalytic activity than Al 2 O 3 –ZnO which was credited to its improved charge carrier generation and transfer characteristics, revealed using in-depth electrochemical spectroscopy (cyclic voltammetry and electro-chemical impedance spectroscopy). In addition, electrochemical investigation affirmed the photoanodic efficacy of HHSs in polysulfide electrolyte. SnO 2 –ZnO HHS exhibited optimal electron–hole generation and transfer characteristics (e.g., ~ 17.5 Ω charge carrier transfer resistance at photoanode/polysulfide electrolyte interface), affirming its suitability for quantum-dot sensitized solar cells.
ISSN:	0957-4522 1573-482X
DOI:	10.1007/s10854-019-01822-y