Facile synthesis of single crystalline n-/p-type ZnO nanorods by lithium substitution and their photoluminescence, electrochemical and photocatalytic properties. (30th January 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Thakur, Indrani; Chatterjee, Sriparna; Swain, Smrutirekha; Ghosh, Arnab; Behera, Swaroop K.; Chaudhary, Yatendra S.
• Is Part Of: New journal of chemistry. Volume 39:Number 4(2015:Apr.)
• Page Start: 2612
• Page End: 2619
• Publication Date: 2015-01-30
• Subjects: Chemistry -- Periodicals; Chimie -- Périodiques; 540
• DOI: 10.1039/c4nj02255f
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1144-0546

Abstract

Abstract : Photocatalytic efficiency of unsubstituted ZnO is greater than Li substituted ZnO nanorods due to the presence of defect states and higher charge carrier density. Abstract : Both n- and p-type single crystalline ZnO nanorods were successfully synthesized via a facile one step solvothermal method by lithium substitution. It was observed that substitution of Li is critical for the formation of n-type or p-type ZnO nanorods. The detailed formation mechanism indicates that the transition from n-type behavior to p-type behavior is due to the presence of defect states and lithium incorporation in the lattice. Using photoluminescence (PL) measurements, the role of defect states in generating the p-type or n-type nature of ZnO nanorods via Li substitution has been analyzed. Furthermore, the photocatalytic performances of the as-prepared ZnO nanorods have been investigated towards the degradation of rhodamine B and methyl orange, and the results demonstrate that the n-type ZnO nanorods behave as an excellent photocatalyst compared to the p-type ZnO nanorods owing to their higher charge carrier density.