Spray Coated of ZnO Particles on ePA Nylon-Carbon Fiber Substrate and Its Photocatalytic Activity Evaluation

Abstract

This work studies a simple deposition of ZnO particles on the ePA Nylon–Carbon Fiber substrate by sol-gel-spray-coating technique. The ZnO films were deposited on the substrate with deposition parameters such as suspension concentration, nozzle-to-substrate distance, nozzle size, coats, pump pressure, and deposition temperature. The ZnO gel suspension concentrations were varied (ZnO-0.06g/ml; ZnO-0.03g/ml), and the post-heated treatment was carried out at 120°C in vacuum condition. The temperature at 45°C during spray coating deposition was also applied to ZnO with the concentration of 0.03g/ml, which was noted as ZnO-0.03 TS. The films were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy/Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (SEM/EDS), and Contact Angle (CA) to determine the structure, morphology, and hydrophilicity. The XRD pattern revealed that all samples have a hexagonal wurtzite structure. The SEM results showed that ZnO-0.06 relatively shows a dense surface, while ZnO-0.03 and ZnO-0.03 TS have a porous surface. The atomic ratio (Zn:O) revealed from the EDS measurement of the films was stoichiometric. The CA measurement showed that the film surfaces are hydrophilic. In addition, the photocatalytic activity was evaluated by the degradation of 2 mg/L methylene blue irradiated by sunlight for 180 mins—the photodegradation efficiencies were 88.37 %, 90.22 %, and 89,47 %, respectively.