abstract
Spray pyrolysis is a promising method for producing thin, transparent films on glass substrates. ZnO thin films synthesized by this method exhibit high crystallinity, adhesion and chemical resistance. They also possess the ability to degrade water pollutants and exhibit antibacterial properties under UV light. The crystalline structure of these films has been studied using grazing X-ray diffraction (GIXRD), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), while transmission electron microscopy (TEM) has been used to investigate their composition and purity. Other techniques such as X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Raman spec-troscopy and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy were also employed. ICP-OES was used to evaluate photocatalyst leaching. These transparent thin films have exceptional optical properties, with a transmittance of 95%. The photocatalytic degradation of 4-Nitrophenol (4-NP) by ZnO thin films showed a degradation rate of 94% in 270 min with a kinetic constant value of 3.1 x 10-3 mM/min. The films are also highly durable and reusable, exhibiting superior performance compared to other ZnO photocatalysts. The bactericidal activity of these transparent films was also evaluated, with a value of 60.6% being obtained using Escherichia coli after irradiating the films with UV light for 3 h.
keywords
DEGRADATION; 4-NITROPHENOL; NANOPARTICLES; SIZE
subject category
Materials Science
authors
Cuadra, JG; Estrada, AC; Oliveira, C; Abderrahim, LA; Porcar, S; Fraga, D; Trindade, T; Seabra, MP; Carda, JB
our authors
Ana Cristina Estrada
Junior Researcher
João António Labrincha Baptista
Full professor
Maria Paula Seabra
Assistant Professor
Tito Trindade
Full professorProjects
CICECO - Aveiro Institute of Materials (UIDB/50011/2020)
CICECO - Aveiro Institute of Materials (UIDP/50011/2020)
Associated Laboratory CICECO-Aveiro Institute of Materials (LA/P/0006/2020)
acknowledgements
The Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (Spain) , through the Ministry of Science, granted financial support under the identification MCIN/EAI/10.13039/501100011033 for project PID2020-116719RB-C43. This study was conducted as part of the projects UIDB/50011/2020, UIDP/50011/2020, and LA/P/0006/2020 at the CICECO-Aveiro Institute of Materials, which received backing from national funds through FCT/MCTES (PIDDAC) . Ana C. Estrada expresses gratitude for the research contract funded by FCT, I.P., where the expenses were covered by national funds (OE) through FCT, as outlined in Article 23, points 4, 5, and 6 of Decree-Law 57/2016, amended by Law 57/2017. CESAM (UIDP/50017/2020 + UIDB/50017/2020 + LA/P/0094/2020) and CFE (UIDB/04004/2020) also received financial support from FCT/MCTES through national funds.