Tuneable Functionalization of Glass Fibre Membranes with ZnO/SnO2 Heterostructures for Photocatalytic Water Treatment: Effect of SnO2 Coverage Rate on the Photocatalytic Degradation of Organics

Abstract

<jats:p>The construction of a ZnO/SnO2 heterostructure is considered in the literature as an efficient strategy to improve photocatalytic properties of ZnO due to an electron/hole delocalisation process. This study is dedicated to an investigation of the photocatalytic performance of ZnO/SnO2 heterostructures directly synthesized in macroporous glass fibres membranes. Hydrothermal ZnO nanorods have been functionalized with SnO2 using an atomic layer deposition (ALD) process. The coverage rate of SnO2 on ZnO nanorods was precisely tailored by controlling the number of ALD cycles. We highlight here the tight control of the photocatalytic properties of the ZnO/SnO2 structure according to the coverage rate of SnO2 on the ZnO nanorods. We show that the highest degradation of methylene blue is obtained when a 40% coverage rate of SnO2 is reached. Interestingly, we also demonstrate that a higher coverage rate leads to a full passivation of the photocatalyst. In addition, we highlight that 40% coverage rate of SnO2 onto ZnO is sufficient for getting a protective layer, leading to a more stable photocatalyst in reuse.</jats:p>

TiO 2 , ZnO, and SnO 2 -based metal oxides for photocatalytic applications: principles and development

“…Photocatalytic degradation experiences based on the decolorization of organic dyes are also commonly found in the literature [34]. In such processes, the decolorization of the molecule is due to the destruction of chromophoric groups of dyes.…”

Photoactive Heterostructures: How They Are Made and Explored

“…Further, we consider the major methods of the synthesis and formation of heterostructured materials, indicating for which system they are more suitable. [32]); (b) BiVO4 nanofilm on CuWO4 nanoflowers (reproduced from [33]); (c) BiVO4 nanosheets on AgVO3 nanobelts (reproduced from [34], Elsevier permission); (d) "core-shell" structure Fe3O4@MgAl layered double hydroxides (reproduced from [35], RSC permission); (e) Bi2WO6 nanoplates on the TiO2 nanofiber mat (reproduced from [36], ACS permission); (f) CdS nanoparticles in combination with TiO2 nanorods (from [37]); (g) Ag nanoparticles (appearing as white bright spheres) on agglomerated spherical TiO2 particles (reproduced from [38]); (h) flowerlike crumpled MoS2 nanosheets on CdS particles form nanoflowers (reproduced from [39]); (i) SnO2 nanoparticles on ZnO nanorods grown on glass fiber membrane (reproduced from [40]); (j) CdS nanoparticles on MoS2 nanosheets (reproduced from [41]); (k) layer of lamellar α-Fe2O3 on Co3O4 nanoneedle arrays grown on Ni foam (reproduced from [42]); (l) NiO nanofilm on ZnO nanorods electrodeposited on ITO-coated glass (reproduced from [43]). Systems (a-j) are dispersed while systems (k) and (l) are planar.…”

The impact of SnO2 photoelectrode’s thickness on photovoltaic properties of the solar cell FTO:SnO2:PTB7-TH:ITIC/Mo/Ag

“…Tin oxides deserve special attention from materials scientists due to their numerous applications. Recently, tin oxide films have attracted the great attention of scientists and technologists in connection with their possible applications in solid-state gas sensors, electrodes for electroluminescent displays, protective coatings, solar cells, and the transparent field-effect transistors [1]. Currently studying two main tin oxides are SnO and SnO 2 .…”