Structural, Morphological, and Optical Properties of Nano- and Micro-Structures of ZnO Obtained by the Vapor–Solid Method at Atmospheric Pressure and Photocatalytic Activity

Micro- and nano-structures of ZnO were synthesized by the vapor–solid method at 600, 700, and 800 °C in atmospheres of Ar and air, at atmospheric pressure. The structural characterization XRD shows that the nano-structures synthesized in air atmosphere at 600 °C, while diffraction peaks were found d...

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Main Authors: Carlos Bueno, Adan Luna, Gregorio Flores, Héctor Juárez, Mauricio Pacio, René Pérez, Javier Flores-Méndez, David Maestre, Raúl Cortés-Maldonado
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-10-01
Series:Crystals
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/14/11/941
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author Carlos Bueno
Adan Luna
Gregorio Flores
Héctor Juárez
Mauricio Pacio
René Pérez
Javier Flores-Méndez
David Maestre
Raúl Cortés-Maldonado
author_facet Carlos Bueno
Adan Luna
Gregorio Flores
Héctor Juárez
Mauricio Pacio
René Pérez
Javier Flores-Méndez
David Maestre
Raúl Cortés-Maldonado
author_sort Carlos Bueno
collection DOAJ
description Micro- and nano-structures of ZnO were synthesized by the vapor–solid method at 600, 700, and 800 °C in atmospheres of Ar and air, at atmospheric pressure. The structural characterization XRD shows that the nano-structures synthesized in air atmosphere at 600 °C, while diffraction peaks were found due to Zn because the presence of metallic Zn remains on the surface of the pellet. SEM images show that the morphologies range from nano-wires to micro-tubes. When cathodoluminescence is measured in micro-tubes, there is a shift of the near-band edge of the ZnO toward red; this is due to structural defects in the ZnO network. This result is corroborated with panchromatic CL measurements, which exhibit a difference in brightness between the micro-tubes. Furthermore, EDS measurements show an atomic quantity ratio of Zn:O that differs from the stoichiometric composition in the micro-tubes. The photocatalytic activity of three types of structures—nano-wires, micro-tubes, and micro-rods under UV irradiation using methylene blue as a model pollutant—were evaluated. The best response was obtained for nanowires, not only because they have a larger surface area but also because of the present defects.
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spelling doaj-art-44b378c941d54f58bcc235ad7df830252025-08-20T01:53:44ZengMDPI AGCrystals2073-43522024-10-01141194110.3390/cryst14110941Structural, Morphological, and Optical Properties of Nano- and Micro-Structures of ZnO Obtained by the Vapor–Solid Method at Atmospheric Pressure and Photocatalytic ActivityCarlos Bueno0Adan Luna1Gregorio Flores2Héctor Juárez3Mauricio Pacio4René Pérez5Javier Flores-Méndez6David Maestre7Raúl Cortés-Maldonado8Instituto Tecnológico de Apizaco, Tecnológico Nacional de México, Av. Instituto Tecnológico No. 418, Apizaco 90491, Tlaxcala, MexicoFacultad de Ingeniería Química, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Av. Sn. Claudio y 18 sur, Jardines de San Manuel 72570, Puebla, MexicoInstituto Tecnológico de Tepeaca, Tecnológico Nacional de México, Av. Tecnológico S/N, Tepeaca 75219, Puebla, MexicoCentro de Investigación en Dispositivos Semiconductores, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, 14 Sur and Av. San Claudio, San Manuel 72000, Puebla, MexicoCentro de Investigación en Dispositivos Semiconductores, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, 14 Sur and Av. San Claudio, San Manuel 72000, Puebla, MexicoFacultad de Ingeniería Química, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Av. Sn. Claudio y 18 sur, Jardines de San Manuel 72570, Puebla, MexicoInstituto Tecnológico de Puebla, Tecnológico Nacional de México, Av. Tecnológico 420 Col. Maravillas, Puebla 72220, Puebla, MexicoDepartamento de Física de Materiales, Facultad de Ciencias Físicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, SpainInstituto Tecnológico de Apizaco, Tecnológico Nacional de México, Av. Instituto Tecnológico No. 418, Apizaco 90491, Tlaxcala, MexicoMicro- and nano-structures of ZnO were synthesized by the vapor–solid method at 600, 700, and 800 °C in atmospheres of Ar and air, at atmospheric pressure. The structural characterization XRD shows that the nano-structures synthesized in air atmosphere at 600 °C, while diffraction peaks were found due to Zn because the presence of metallic Zn remains on the surface of the pellet. SEM images show that the morphologies range from nano-wires to micro-tubes. When cathodoluminescence is measured in micro-tubes, there is a shift of the near-band edge of the ZnO toward red; this is due to structural defects in the ZnO network. This result is corroborated with panchromatic CL measurements, which exhibit a difference in brightness between the micro-tubes. Furthermore, EDS measurements show an atomic quantity ratio of Zn:O that differs from the stoichiometric composition in the micro-tubes. The photocatalytic activity of three types of structures—nano-wires, micro-tubes, and micro-rods under UV irradiation using methylene blue as a model pollutant—were evaluated. The best response was obtained for nanowires, not only because they have a larger surface area but also because of the present defects.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/14/11/941nano-structureszinc oxidecathodoluminescencephotocatalysis
spellingShingle Carlos Bueno
Adan Luna
Gregorio Flores
Héctor Juárez
Mauricio Pacio
René Pérez
Javier Flores-Méndez
David Maestre
Raúl Cortés-Maldonado
Structural, Morphological, and Optical Properties of Nano- and Micro-Structures of ZnO Obtained by the Vapor–Solid Method at Atmospheric Pressure and Photocatalytic Activity
Crystals
nano-structures
zinc oxide
cathodoluminescence
photocatalysis
title Structural, Morphological, and Optical Properties of Nano- and Micro-Structures of ZnO Obtained by the Vapor–Solid Method at Atmospheric Pressure and Photocatalytic Activity
title_full Structural, Morphological, and Optical Properties of Nano- and Micro-Structures of ZnO Obtained by the Vapor–Solid Method at Atmospheric Pressure and Photocatalytic Activity
title_fullStr Structural, Morphological, and Optical Properties of Nano- and Micro-Structures of ZnO Obtained by the Vapor–Solid Method at Atmospheric Pressure and Photocatalytic Activity
title_full_unstemmed Structural, Morphological, and Optical Properties of Nano- and Micro-Structures of ZnO Obtained by the Vapor–Solid Method at Atmospheric Pressure and Photocatalytic Activity
title_short Structural, Morphological, and Optical Properties of Nano- and Micro-Structures of ZnO Obtained by the Vapor–Solid Method at Atmospheric Pressure and Photocatalytic Activity
title_sort structural morphological and optical properties of nano and micro structures of zno obtained by the vapor solid method at atmospheric pressure and photocatalytic activity
topic nano-structures
zinc oxide
cathodoluminescence
photocatalysis
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/14/11/941
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