Anchoring Mechanism of ZnO Nanoparticles on Graphitic Carbon Nanofiber Surfaces through a Modified Co‐Precipitation Method to Improve Interfacial Contact and Photocatalytic Performance

Abstract

A facile three-step co-precipitation method is developed to synthesize graphitic carbon nanofibers (CNFs) decorated with ZnO nanoparticles (NPs). By interchanging intermediate steps of the reaction processes, two kinds of nanohybrids are fabricated with stark morphological and physicochemical differences. The morphologies differ because of the different chemical environments of the NP/nanocluster formation. The hybrid with larger and non-uniform ZnO nanocluster size is formed in liquid phase and resulted in considerable interfacial defects that deteriorate the charge-transfer properties. The hybrid with smaller and uniform ZnO NPs was formed in a dry solid phase and produced near-defect-free interfaces, leading to efficient charge transfer for superior photocatalytic performance. The results broaden the understanding of the anchoring/bonding mechanism in ZnO/CNF hybrid formation and may facilitate further development of more effective exfoliation strategies for the preparation of high-performance composites/hybrids.

Oxygen Vacancy-Induced Structural, Optical, and Enhanced Supercapacitive Performance of Zinc Oxide Anchored Graphitic Carbon Nanofiber Hybrid Electrodes

“…The other peak observed at C3 (286.28/285.98/286.42 eV for CNFZnO-RT/300/600, respectively) might arise for several reasons. It might correspond to the carbon in the phenolic/alcoholic groups or (more likely) to the formation of a −C–O-Zn bond between carbon in the CNF and Zn in the ZnO nanoparticles. , The ZnO NPs attached to the walls of the CNF are also shown in the HRTEM images of CNFZnO-300/600. The absence of a peak at ∼282 eV indicates that there is no direct bonding between C and Zn (C–Zn) in the hybrids .…”

Atomic‐Layer‐Deposited ZnO on Carbon Black as High‐Performance Catalysts for the Thermal Decomposition of Ammonium Perchlorate

“…[9c] Besides, the ZnO nanoparticles have an average particle size of 10 nm, as shown in the Figure d, suggesting that the growth rate is slightly lower than the typical result of 1.3 Å per cycle for the ZnO ALD . From the high‐resolution TEM (HRTEM) image shown in Figure e, there are two kinds of interplanar spacing, measuring 0.28 nm and 0.34 nm, which are well‐matched with the (100) plane of hexagonal wurtzite ZnO and the gap between the two single graphene layers in CB, respectively . The detailed analysis of the boundary between the two region types, marked with yellow dotted circle in Figure e, is shown in Figure f, indicating that some of the ZnO lattice sites have been incorporated into the CB surface, resulting from the C–O–Zn bond formed by the reaction between DEZn and the oxygen functional groups of the CB surface during the ALD process.…”

“…The detailed analysis of the boundary between the two region types, marked with yellow dotted circle in Figure e, is shown in Figure f, indicating that some of the ZnO lattice sites have been incorporated into the CB surface, resulting from the C–O–Zn bond formed by the reaction between DEZn and the oxygen functional groups of the CB surface during the ALD process. [12a], …”

An efficient orange–red‐emitting LiNa3P2O7:Sm3+ pyrophosphate: Structural and optical analysis for solid‐state lighting

“…The Na 1 s spectrum has a sharp peak, as depicted in Figure (d). It was fitted to a single peak at 1071.5 eV (Na1) assigned to the Na–O bond in the phosphor . The P 2p high‐resolution spectrum is composed of two symmetrical peaks due to phosphorous doublets (2p 3/2 and 2p 1/2 ), as shown in Figure (e).…”