In situ construction of conjugated polymer P3HT coupled hierarchical ZnO composite with Z-scheme enhanced visible-light photocatalytic activity. (October 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Liu, Hairui; Li, Man; Yang, Jien; Hu, Chunjie; Shang, Jun; Zhai, Haifa
• Is Part Of: Materials research bulletin. Volume 106(2018)
• Page Start: 19
• Page End: 27
• Publication Date: 2018-10
• Subjects: Hierarchical ZnO -- P3HT@H-ZnO -- Composite materials -- Semiconductor photocatalysis; Materials -- Periodicals; Crystal growth -- Periodicals; Matériaux -- Périodiques; Cristaux -- Croissance -- Périodiques; Crystal growth; Materials; Periodicals; 620.11
• DOI: 10.1016/j.materresbull.2018.05.026
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0025-5408

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Conjugated polymer P3HT coupled with hierarchical ZnO (H-ZnO) photocatalysts were fabricated by a two-step solution method with assembling P3HT nanoparticles on the surface of H-ZnO micro-flowers. The as-prepared P3HT@H-ZnO composite exhibited highest photocatalytic activity for photocatalytic degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) and under visible light irradiation. The enhanced photocatalytic activity was attributed to the richen defects in H-ZnO micro-flowers and the effective separation and transfer of the photo-induced electron-hole pairs within the P3HT@H-ZnO composite follow a Z-scheme mechanism. Highlights: P3HT@H-ZnO photocatalysts were fabricated via a two-step solution method. The P3HT@H-ZnO composite. exhibited high photodegredation of RhB under visible-light. Enhanced photocatalytic activity attributed to the closely contacted interface between P3HT and H-ZnO and the matched band gap structure. The fabricated P3HT@H-ZnO composite follow a Z-scheme mechanism rather than type II heterojunction. Abstract: Conjugated polymer P3HT coupled with hierarchical ZnO (H-ZnO) photocatalysts were fabricated by a two-step solution method with assembling P3HT nanoparticles on the surface of H-ZnO micro-flowers. Optical properties revealed that the fabricated H-ZnO micro-flowers were rich in defects. The as-prepared P3HT@H-ZnO composite exhibited higher photocatalytic activity than H-ZnO for photocatalytic degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) under visible light irradiation. The enhanced photocatalytic activity was attributed to the strengthened visible light absorption and the closely contacted interface between P3HT and H-ZnO. Based on the reactive species trapping experiments and band gap structure analysis, it can be identified that the effective separation and transfer of the photo-induced electron-hole pairs within the P3HT@H-ZnO composite follow a Z-scheme mechanism rather than type II heterojunction. The present work will provide a new insight to design Z-scheme photocatalysts with enhanced photocatalytic performance via metal-free polymers modification.