Au integrated 2D ZnO heterostructures as robust visible light photocatalysts

Siva Chidambaram; Mohan Kumar Ganesan; Muthusamy Sivakumar; Saravanan Pandiaraj; Muthumareeswaran Muthuramamoorthy; Santhosh Basavarajappa; Abdulaziz Abdullah Al-Kheraif; M L Aruna Kumari; Andrews Nirmala Grace

doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.130594

Au integrated 2D ZnO heterostructures as robust visible light photocatalysts

Chemosphere. 2021 Oct:280:130594. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.130594. Epub 2021 Apr 28.

Authors

Siva Chidambaram¹, Mohan Kumar Ganesan², Muthusamy Sivakumar³, Saravanan Pandiaraj⁴, Muthumareeswaran Muthuramamoorthy⁵, Santhosh Basavarajappa⁶, Abdulaziz Abdullah Al-Kheraif⁶, M L Aruna Kumari⁷, Andrews Nirmala Grace⁸

Affiliations

¹ Division of Nanoscience and Technology, Anna University-BIT Campus, Tiruchirappalli, 620024, India; Department of Physics and Nanotechnology, College Engineering and Technology, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, SRM Nagar, Kattankulathur, 603 203, Chengalpattu, Tamilnadu, India.
² Quantum-Functional Semiconductor Research Center (QSRC), South Korea; Nano-Information Technology Academy (NITA), Dongguk University, Seoul, South Korea. Electronic address: gmohankumar@dongguk.edu.
³ Division of Nanoscience and Technology, Anna University-BIT Campus, Tiruchirappalli, 620024, India. Electronic address: muthusiva@gmail.com.
⁴ Department of Self Development Skills, CFY Deanship, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Electronic address: psaravanan.c@ksu.edu.sa.
⁵ King Abdullah Institute for Nanotechnology, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Electronic address: mramamoorthy@ksu.edu.sa.
⁶ Dental Biomaterials Research Chair, Dental Health Department, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, P.O. Box: 10219, Riyadh 11433, Saudi Arabia.
⁷ Department of Chemistry, Ramaiah College of Arts, Science and Commerce, Bengaluru, 560054, India.
⁸ Centre for Nanotechnology Research, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, 632014, Tamil Nadu, India.

PMID: 33962298
DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.130594

Abstract

Integration of semiconducting nanostructures with noble metal nanoparticles are turning highly desirable for cost efficient energy and environmental related applications. From this viewpoint, we report on a facile aqueous synthesis of polymer capped gold (Au) nanoparticles on free standing 2D layered structures of zinc oxide (ZnO) to result with ZnO/Au nanocomposites. Concentration of Au nanoparticles were observed to promote the preferential growth of ZnO along the (002) wurtzite plane. The ZnO/Au structures and their morphological dissemination was noted to be of few. This flake like structure was also noted to be greatly influenced by the concentration of Au in the colloidal blend. Optical band edge transformations noted in the absorption spectra across the lower wavelength region and the shift in surface plasmon resonance (SPR) towards the red region of the visible spectrum signify the improved absorptivity of the heterostructures along the visible spectrum. These heterostructures exhibited remarkable visible light driven photocatalytic activity (99% efficiency) on par with pristine ZnO. The findings also attest this new class of composite structures to open up new openings in diversified solar energy conversion related functions.

Keywords: Au/ZnO heterojunction; Methylene blue; Nanocomposite; Photocatalyst; Solar light irradiation; Surface plasmon resonance.

MeSH terms

Catalysis
Gold
Light
Metal Nanoparticles*
Zinc Oxide*

Substances

Gold
Zinc Oxide