Physical Characteristics, Blue-Green Band Emission and Photocatalytic Activity of Au-Decorated ZnO Quantum Dots-Based Thick Films Prepared Using the Doctor Blade Techniqueopen access
- Authors
- Fatehmulla, A[Fatehmulla, Amanullah]; Shamsan, BA[Shamsan, Belqes A. A.]; El-Naggar, AM[El-Naggar, Ahmed M. M.]; Aldhafiri, AM[Aldhafiri, Abdullah M. M.]; Qureshi, N[Qureshi, Nilam]; Kim, T[Kim, Taesung]; Atif, M[Atif, Muhammad]; Mahmood, A[Mahmood, Asif]; Asif, M[Asif, Mohammad]
- Issue Date
- Jun-2023
- Publisher
- MDPI
- Keywords
- co-precipitation; ZnO quantum dots; Au nanoparticles; blue-green band emission; photocatalysis; photoactive
- Citation
- MOLECULES, v.28, no.12
- Indexed
- SCIE
SCOPUS
- Journal Title
- MOLECULES
- Volume
- 28
- Number
- 12
- URI
- https://scholarworks.bwise.kr/skku/handle/2021.sw.skku/106982
- DOI
- 10.3390/molecules28124644
- ISSN
- 1420-3049
- Abstract
- Nanoscale ZnO is a vital semiconductor material whose versatility can be enhanced by sensitizing it with metals, especially noble metals, such as gold (Au). ZnO quantum dots were prepared via a simple co-precipitation technique using 2-methoxy ethanol as the solvent and KOH as the pH regulator for hydrolysis. The synthesized ZnO quantum dots were deposited onto glass slides using a simple doctor blade technique. Subsequently, the films were decorated with gold nanoparticles of different sizes using a drop-casting method. The resultant films were characterized via various strategies to obtain structural, optical, morphological, and particle size information. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) reveals the formation of the hexagonal crystal structure of ZnO. Upon Au nanoparticles loading, peaks due to gold are also observed. The optical properties study shows a slight change in the band gap due to Au loading. Nanoscale sizes of particles have been confirmed through electron microscope studies. P.L. studies display blue and blue-green band emissions. The significant degradation efficiency of 90.2% methylene blue (M.B.) was attained in natural pH in 120 min using pure ZnO catalyst while one drop gold-loaded catalysts, ZnO: Au 5 nm, ZnO: Au 7 nm, ZnO: Au 10 nm and ZnO: Au 15 nm, delivered M.B. degradation efficiency of 74.5% (in 245 min), 63.8% (240 min), 49.6% (240 min) and 34.0% (170 min) in natural pH, respectively. Such films can be helpful in conventional catalysis, photocatalysis, gas sensing, biosensing, and photoactive applications.
- Files in This Item
- There are no files associated with this item.
- Appears in
Collections - Engineering > School of Mechanical Engineering > 1. Journal Articles
Items in ScholarWorks are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.