Silver-modification of ZnO thin films deposited on Zn-electroplated Cu substrate by thermal shock method for the enhanced photocatalytic performance

• Published in: Journal of Taibah University for Science Vol. 18; no. 1
• Main Authors: Nguyen, Trinh Anh Minh, Le, Tien Khoa, Hoang, Chau Ngoc, Nguyen, Huu Khanh Hung, Huynh, Thi Kieu Xuan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor & Francis Group 31-12-2024
• Subjects: Ag-modification; photocatalysis; sol–gel spin-coating method; thermal shock method; ZnO thin film
• ISSN: 1658-3655; 1658-3655
• DOI: 10.1080/16583655.2023.2285079

Ag-modified ZnO thin films on Zn-electroplated Cu substrate with different Ag-contents were prepared via a simple sol–gel spin-coating procedure followed by a thermal shock method with AgNO3, and then characterized by XRD, Raman, FTIR, FESEM, EDX, and UV-visible absorption spectroscopy. Their photocatalytic performance was evaluated by the degradation of methylene blue. Due to the sol–gel spin-coating process, the film was successfully immobilized on mechanically robust Zn/Cu plates, making it promising for applications in harsh practical conditions and facilitating recovery. When our ZnO thin films were surface-modified with AgNO3 at 1 and 2 mol%, they exhibited the best photocatalytic activity under UVA light and visible light, respectively, which can be explained by the appearance of maze-like architecture on their surface with vertical ZnO walls, surface defects and metallic silver nanoparticles. However, when the Ag-content was increased to 3 mol%, the maze-like structure collapsed, leading to decreases in photocatalytic performance.