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Graphene-based plasmonic nanocomposites for highly enhanced solar-driven photocatalytic activities
Linköping University, Department of Science and Technology, Physics, Electronics and Mathematics. Linköping University, Faculty of Science & Engineering.ORCID iD: 0000-0001-8150-729X
Linköping University, Department of Science and Technology, Physics, Electronics and Mathematics. Linköping University, Faculty of Science & Engineering. School of Information Technology, Halmstad University, Halmstad, Sweden.ORCID iD: 0000-0002-6850-1552
Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran.
Linköping University, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Thin Film Physics. Linköping University, Faculty of Science & Engineering.ORCID iD: 0000-0002-9840-7364
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2019 (English)In: RSC Advances, E-ISSN 2046-2069, Vol. 9, no 52, p. 30585-30598Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

High-efficiency photocatalysts are crucial for the removal of organic pollutants and environmental sustainability. In the present work, we report on a new low-temperature hydrothermal chemical method, assisted by ultrasonication, to synthesize disruptive plasmonic ZnO/graphene/Ag/AgI nanocomposites for solar-driven photocatalysis. The plasmonic nanocomposites were investigated by a wide range of characterization techniques, confirming successful formation of photocatalysts with excellent degradation efficiency. Using Congo red as a model dye molecule, our experimental results demonstrated a photocatalytic reactivity exceeding 90% efficiency after one hour simulated solar irradiation. The significantly enhanced degradation efficiency is attributed to improved electronic properties of the nanocomposites by hybridization of the graphene and to the addition of Ag/AgI which generates a strong surface plasmon resonance effect in the metallic silver further improving the photocatalytic activity and stability under solar irradiation. Scavenger experiments suggest that superoxide and hydroxyl radicals are responsible for the photodegradation of Congo red. Our findings are important for the fundamental understanding of the photocatalytic mechanism of ZnO/graphene/Ag/AgI nanocomposites and can lead to further development of novel efficient photocatalyst materials.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Royal Meteorological Society, 2019. Vol. 9, no 52, p. 30585-30598
National Category
Condensed Matter Physics
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-160568DOI: 10.1039/C9RA06273DISI: 000487989300064OAI: oai:DiVA.org:liu-160568DiVA, id: diva2:1355675
Note

Funding agencies: Department of Science and Technology (ITN) at Campus Norrkoping, Linkoping University, Sweden; Knut and Alice Wallenberg FoundationKnut & Alice Wallenberg Foundation

Available from: 2019-09-30 Created: 2019-09-30 Last updated: 2024-01-08Bibliographically approved
In thesis
1. Graphene-based nanocomposites for electronics and photocatalysis
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Graphene-based nanocomposites for electronics and photocatalysis
2019 (English)Licentiate thesis, comprehensive summary (Other academic)
Abstract [en]

The development of future electronics depends on the availability of suitable functional materials. Printed electronics, for example, relies on access to highly conductive, inexpensive and printable materials, while strong light absorption and low carrier recombination rates are demanded in photocatalysis industry. Despite all efforts to develop new materials, it still remains a challenge to have all the desirable aspects in a single material. One possible route towards novel functional materials, with improved and unprecedented physical properties, is to form composites of different selected materials.

In this work, we report on hydrothermal growth and characterization of graphene/zinc oxide (GR/ZnO) nanocomposites, suited for electronics and photocatalysis application. For conductive purposes, highly Al-doped ZnO nanorods grown on graphene nanoplates (GNPs) prevent the GNPs from agglomerating and promote conductive paths between the GNPs. The effect of the ZnO nanorod morphology and GR dispersity on the nanocomposite conductivity and GR/ZnO nanorod bonding strength were investigated by conductivity measurements and optical spectroscopy. The inspected samples show that growth in high pH solutions promotes a better graphene dispersity, higher doping and enhanced bonding between the GNPs and the ZnO nanorods. Growth in low pH solutions yield samples characterized by a higher conductivity and a reduced number of surface defects.

In addition, different GR/ZnO nanocomposites, decorated with plasmonic silver iodide (AgI) nanoparticles, were synthesized and analyzed for solar-driven photocatalysis. The addition of Ag/AgI generates a strong surface plasmon resonance effect involving metallic Ag0, which redshifts the optical absorption maximum into the visible light region enhancing the photocatalytic performance under solar irradiation. A wide range of characterization techniques including, electron microscopy, photoelectron spectroscopy and x-ray diffraction confirm a successful formation of photocatalysts.

Our findings show that the novel proposed GR-based nanocomposites can lead to further development of efficient photocatalyst materials with applications in removal of organic pollutants, or for fabrication of large volumes of inexpensive porous conjugated GR-semiconductor composites.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Linköping: Linköping University Electronic Press, 2019. p. 52
Series
Linköping Studies in Science and Technology. Licentiate Thesis, ISSN 0280-7971 ; 1847
Keywords
Graphene, Zinc oxide, Silver iodine, Plasmonics, Nanocomposites, Conjugated electronics, Photocatalysis, Photodegradation
National Category
Materials Chemistry
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-157095 (URN)10.3384/lic.diva-157095 (DOI)9789176850404 (ISBN)
Presentation
2019-06-13, K3, Kåkenhus, Norrköping, 14:15 (English)
Opponent
Supervisors
Available from: 2019-05-28 Created: 2019-05-28 Last updated: 2024-01-08Bibliographically approved
2. Synthesis and Characterization of Some Nanostructured Materials for Visible Light-driven Photo Processes
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Synthesis and Characterization of Some Nanostructured Materials for Visible Light-driven Photo Processes
2020 (English)Doctoral thesis, comprehensive summary (Other academic)
Abstract [en]

Nanostructured materials for visible light driven photo-processes such as photodegradation of organic pollutants and photoelectrochemical (PEC) water oxidation for hydrogen production are very attractive because of the positive impact on the environment. Metal oxides-based nanostructures are widely used in these photoprocesses due to their unique properties. But single nanostructured metal oxide material might suffer from low efficiency and instability in aqueous solutions under visible light. These facts make it important to have an efficient and reliable nanocomposite for the photo-processes. The combination of different nanomaterials to form a composite configuration can produce a material with new properties. The new properties which are due to the synergetic effect, are a combination of the properties of all the counterparts of the nanocomposite. Zinc oxides (ZnO) have unique optical and electrical properties which grant it to be used in optoelectronics, sensors, solar cells, nanogenerators, and photocatalysis activities. Although ZnO absorbs visible light from the sun due to the deep level band, it mainly absorbs ultraviolet wavelengths which constitute a small portion of the whole solar spectrum range. Also, ZnO has a problem with the high recombination rate of the photogenerated electrons. These problems might reduce its applicability to the photo-process. Therefore, our aim is to develop and investigate different nanocomposites materials based on the ZnO nanostructures for the enhancement of photocatalysis processes using the visible solar light as a green source of energy. Two photo-processes were applied to examine the developed nanocomposites through photocatalysis: (1) the photodegradation of organic dyes, (2) PEC water splitting. In the first photo-process, we used the ZnO nanoparticles (NPs), Magnesium (Mg)-doped ZnO NPs, and plasmonic ZnO/graphene-based nanocomposite for the decomposition of some organic dyes that have been used in industries. For the second photo-process, ZnO photoelectrode composite with different silver-based semiconductors to enhance the performance of the ZnO photoelectrode was used for PEC reaction analysis to perform water splitting. The characterization and photocatalysis experiment results showed remarkable enhancement in the photocatalysis efficiency of the synthesized nanocomposites. The observed improved properties of the ZnO are due to the synergetic effects are caused by the addition of the other nanomaterials. Hence, the present thesis attends to the synthesis and characterization of some nanostructured materials composite with ZnO that are promising candidates for visible light-driven photo-processes.  

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Linköping: Linköping University Electronic Press, 2020. p. 89
Series
Linköping Studies in Science and Technology. Dissertations, ISSN 0345-7524 ; 2059
Keywords
ZnO, Nanoparticles, Nanocomposites, Heterostructures, Photocatalysis
National Category
Materials Chemistry
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-164334 (URN)10.3384/diss.diva-164334 (DOI)9789179298784 (ISBN)
Public defence
2020-04-17, K3 Önnesjösalen, Kåkenhus, Campus Norrköping, Norrköping, 10:15 (English)
Opponent
Supervisors
Available from: 2020-03-18 Created: 2020-03-18 Last updated: 2024-01-08Bibliographically approved
3. Synthesis and Characterization of ZnO/Graphene Nanostructures for Electronics and Photocatalysis
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Synthesis and Characterization of ZnO/Graphene Nanostructures for Electronics and Photocatalysis
2021 (English)Doctoral thesis, comprehensive summary (Other academic)
Abstract [en]

Recent rapid development of electronics and electro-optical devices demands affordable and reliable materials with enhanced performance. Forming nanocomposites of already well-known materials is one possible route towards novel functional materials with desirable synergistic enhanced properties. Incompatible chemical properties, mismatched crystal structures and weak bonding interactions between the substances, however, often limit the number of possible nanocomposites. Moreover, using an inexpensive, facile, large-area and flexible fabrication technique is crucial to employ the new composites in industrially viable applications.

This thesis focuses on the synthesis and characterization of different zinc oxide/graphene (ZnO/GR) nanocomposites, well suited for optoelectronics and photocatalysis applications. Two different approaches of i) substrate-free random synthesis, and ii) template-assisted selective area synthesis were studied in detail. In the first approach, ZnO nanoparticles/rods were grown on GR. The obtained nanocomposites were investigated for better GR dispersity, electrical conductivity and optical properties. Besides, by adding silver iodide to the nanocomposite, an enhanced plasmonic solar-driven photocatalyst was synthesized and analyzed. In the second approach, arrays of single, vertically aligned ZnO nanorods were synthesized using a colloidal lithography-patterned sol-gel ZnO seed layer. Our demonstrated nanofabrication technique with simple, substrate independent, and large wafer-scale area compatibility improved the alignment and surface density of ZnO nanorods over large selective growth areas. Eventually, we found a novel method to further enhance the vertical alignment of the ZnO nanorods by introducing a GR buffer layer between the Si substrate and the ZnO seed layer, together with the mentioned patterning technique.

The synthesized nanocomposites were analyzed using a large variety of experimental techniques including electron microscopy, photoelectron spectroscopy, x-ray diffraction, photoluminescence and cathodoluminescence spectroscopy for in-depth studies of their morphology, chemical and optical properties. Our findings show that the designed ZnO/GR nanocomposites with vertically aligned ZnO nanorods of high crystalline quality, synthesized with the developed low-cost nanofabrication technique, can lead to novel devices offering higher performance at a significantly lower fabrication cost.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Linköping: Linköping University Electronic Press, 2021. p. 128
Series
Linköping Studies in Science and Technology. Dissertations, ISSN 0345-7524 ; 2130
Keywords
zinc oxide, graphene, nanostructure, nanocomposite, conjugated electronics, photocatalysis, nanofabrication, colloidal lithography, chemical bath deposition, sol-gel
National Category
Composite Science and Engineering Nano Technology Materials Chemistry Condensed Matter Physics
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-174835 (URN)10.3384/diss.diva-174835 (DOI)9789179296827 (ISBN)
Public defence
2021-05-07, TPM55, Täppan, Campus Norrköping, Norrköping, 10:15 (English)
Opponent
Supervisors
Available from: 2021-04-08 Created: 2021-04-07 Last updated: 2024-01-08Bibliographically approved

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Adam, Rania ElhadiChalangar, EbrahimPozina, GaliaLiu, XianjiePalisaitis, JustinasPettersson, HåkanWillander, Magnus

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