ZnOCZnO sandwich structures: Fabrication and photocatalytic applications

This study investigates the development of ZnOCZnO sandwich structures using ZnO thin films fabricated via the spatial atomic layer deposition (SALD) technique under atmospheric pressure. Carbon powders obtained from candle soot were introduced to modify the structural, optical, and photocatalytic...

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Main Authors:	Thi Ly Tran, Thi Le Na Vo, Hung-Anh Tran Vu, Quoc Viet Ho, Anh Tuan Duong, Viet Huong Nguyen, Huu Tuan Nguyen
Format:	Article
Language:	English
Published:	Elsevier 2025-06-01
Series:	MethodsX
Subjects:	ZnOCZnO sandwich structures fabrication using AP-SALD and candle soot
Online Access:	http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2215016125001724
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author	Thi Ly Tran Thi Le Na Vo Hung-Anh Tran Vu Quoc Viet Ho Anh Tuan Duong Viet Huong Nguyen Huu Tuan Nguyen
author_facet	Thi Ly Tran Thi Le Na Vo Hung-Anh Tran Vu Quoc Viet Ho Anh Tuan Duong Viet Huong Nguyen Huu Tuan Nguyen
author_sort	Thi Ly Tran
collection	DOAJ
description	This study investigates the development of ZnOCZnO sandwich structures using ZnO thin films fabricated via the spatial atomic layer deposition (SALD) technique under atmospheric pressure. Carbon powders obtained from candle soot were introduced to modify the structural, optical, and photocatalytic properties of ZnO. The influence of this carbon layer on the structural, optical, and photocatalytic characteristics of the materials was comprehensively analyzed. The results indicate that incorporating carbon significantly enhances light absorption and charge carrier separation, leading to superior photocatalytic activity under UV light. The ZnOCZnO structures exhibited a reduced bandgap (3.20 eV) compared to bare ZnO (3.27 eV), facilitating improved photon absorption. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis revealed weaker and broader peaks in ZnOCZnO, suggesting reduced crystallite size and increased structural disorder due to carbon incorporation. The photocatalytic efficiency was assessed via methylene blue degradation under UV–Vis irradiation. The ZnOCZnO structures achieved an 88.2 % degradation rate after 180 min, surpassing the 62.9 % degradation observed for bare ZnO film. This enhancement is attributed to improved charge separation and suppressed recombination facilitated by the carbon interlayer. The findings highlight the potential of ZnOCZnO structures for environmental remediation and energy applications. • Development of ZnOCZnO sandwich structures using SALD under atmospheric conditions. • Integration of a candle soot-derived carbon layer to improve material properties. • Achieved enhanced photocatalytic efficiency through enhanced surface area and improved charge separation.
format	Article
id	doaj-art-da8b01bcdbe5463087cc0cd63f1fd207
institution	Kabale University
issn	2215-0161
language	English
publishDate	2025-06-01
publisher	Elsevier
record_format	Article
series	MethodsX
spelling	doaj-art-da8b01bcdbe5463087cc0cd63f1fd2072025-08-20T03:24:44ZengElsevierMethodsX2215-01612025-06-011410332610.1016/j.mex.2025.103326ZnOCZnO sandwich structures: Fabrication and photocatalytic applicationsThi Ly Tran0Thi Le Na Vo1Hung-Anh Tran Vu2Quoc Viet Ho3Anh Tuan Duong4Viet Huong Nguyen5Huu Tuan Nguyen6Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering, Phenikaa University, Hanoi, 12116, VietnamFaculty of Materials Science and Engineering, Phenikaa University, Hanoi, 12116, VietnamFaculty of Materials Science and Engineering, Phenikaa University, Hanoi, 12116, VietnamFaculty of Materials Science and Engineering, Phenikaa University, Hanoi, 12116, VietnamFaculty of Materials Science and Engineering, Phenikaa University, Hanoi, 12116, Vietnam; Phenikaa Institute for Advanced Study (PIAS), Phenikaa University, Hanoi, 12116, VietnamFaculty of Materials Science and Engineering, Phenikaa University, Hanoi, 12116, Vietnam; Corresponding authors.Phenikaa Institute for Advanced Study (PIAS), Phenikaa University, Hanoi, 12116, Vietnam; Faculty of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Phenikaa University, Hanoi, 12116, Vietnam; Corresponding authors.This study investigates the development of ZnOCZnO sandwich structures using ZnO thin films fabricated via the spatial atomic layer deposition (SALD) technique under atmospheric pressure. Carbon powders obtained from candle soot were introduced to modify the structural, optical, and photocatalytic properties of ZnO. The influence of this carbon layer on the structural, optical, and photocatalytic characteristics of the materials was comprehensively analyzed. The results indicate that incorporating carbon significantly enhances light absorption and charge carrier separation, leading to superior photocatalytic activity under UV light. The ZnOCZnO structures exhibited a reduced bandgap (3.20 eV) compared to bare ZnO (3.27 eV), facilitating improved photon absorption. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis revealed weaker and broader peaks in ZnOCZnO, suggesting reduced crystallite size and increased structural disorder due to carbon incorporation. The photocatalytic efficiency was assessed via methylene blue degradation under UV–Vis irradiation. The ZnOCZnO structures achieved an 88.2 % degradation rate after 180 min, surpassing the 62.9 % degradation observed for bare ZnO film. This enhancement is attributed to improved charge separation and suppressed recombination facilitated by the carbon interlayer. The findings highlight the potential of ZnOCZnO structures for environmental remediation and energy applications. • Development of ZnOCZnO sandwich structures using SALD under atmospheric conditions. • Integration of a candle soot-derived carbon layer to improve material properties. • Achieved enhanced photocatalytic efficiency through enhanced surface area and improved charge separation.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2215016125001724ZnOCZnO sandwich structures fabrication using AP-SALD and candle soot
spellingShingle	Thi Ly Tran Thi Le Na Vo Hung-Anh Tran Vu Quoc Viet Ho Anh Tuan Duong Viet Huong Nguyen Huu Tuan Nguyen ZnOCZnO sandwich structures: Fabrication and photocatalytic applications MethodsX ZnOCZnO sandwich structures fabrication using AP-SALD and candle soot
title	ZnOCZnO sandwich structures: Fabrication and photocatalytic applications
title_full	ZnOCZnO sandwich structures: Fabrication and photocatalytic applications
title_fullStr	ZnOCZnO sandwich structures: Fabrication and photocatalytic applications
title_full_unstemmed	ZnOCZnO sandwich structures: Fabrication and photocatalytic applications
title_short	ZnOCZnO sandwich structures: Fabrication and photocatalytic applications
title_sort	znoczno sandwich structures fabrication and photocatalytic applications
topic	ZnOCZnO sandwich structures fabrication using AP-SALD and candle soot
url	http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2215016125001724
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ZnOCZnO sandwich structures: Fabrication and photocatalytic applications

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