Engineered ZnO‐TiO2 Nanospheres for High Performing Membrane Assimilated Photocatalytic Water Remediation and Energy Harvesting. Issue 25 (4th July 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Shejale, Kiran P.; Laishram, Devika; Gupta, Ritu; Sharma, Rakesh K.
• Is Part Of: ChemistrySelect. Volume 3:Issue 25(2018)
• Page Start: 7291
• Page End: 7301
• Publication Date: 2018-07-04
• Subjects: Hydrothermal synthesis -- water contaminants -- Cr (VI) -- photocatalysis -- graphene counter electrode; Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540.5
• DOI: 10.1002/slct.201800988
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2365-6549

Abstract

Abstract: This paper is a study of ZnO doped TiO2 in various percentages ranging from 0% (undoped) up to 10%. The effect of doping was observed via the change in morphological, optical, electrical and physical properties of ZnO‐TiO2 nanospheres. Hydrothermally grown nanospheres are used for removing contaminants photo‐catalytically from waste water and also as photoanodes in dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) with graphene as counter electrode. Of the many approaches that have been explored for purification of contaminated water, this work presents designing of an environmental friendly solution, based on easily available filter paper membrane and incorporating it with the synthesized catalyst for photodegradation of the harmful toxic substances. These reusable membranes assist in the photodegradation process by creating room for better light‐catalyst‐dye interaction via large surface sites. The spherically structured heterojunction of ZnO‐TiO2 generates excitons that oxidize methyl orange (MO) and reduce harmful Cr(VI) to non‐toxic Cr(III) with high efficacy. Additionally, the agile nanostructures were employed as efficient photoanode material by fabricating dye sensitized solar cells with graphene as counter electrode. Abstract : A highly efficient, reusable ZnO‐TiO2 heterojunction nanoparticle‐based photocatalyst has been successfully demonstrated as a simple and inexpensive way for water remediation. The highly porous membrane integrated with ZnO‐TiO2 nanospheres showed significant improvement for removal of specific industrial wastewater contaminates like methyl orange and Cr(VI). Additionally, the ZnO‐TiO2 heterojunction nanospheres as DSSC photoanode showed a substantial photo conversion efficiency with graphene counter electrode.