A novel microwave-assisted strategy to fabricate multifunctional photoactive titania-based heterostructures with enhanced activity. (March 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kubiak, Adam; Bielan, Zuzanna; Bartkowiak, Aleksandra; Gabała, Elżbieta; Frankowski, Marcin; Zalas, Maciej; Siwińska-Ciesielczyk, Katarzyna; Janczarek, Marcin; Jesionowski, Teofil
• Is Part Of: Materials research bulletin. Volume 147(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-03
• Subjects: Oxides -- Nanostructures -- Semiconductors -- Crystal growth -- Catalytic properties -- Photovoltaic properties; Materials -- Periodicals; Crystal growth -- Periodicals; Matériaux -- Périodiques; Cristaux -- Croissance -- Périodiques; Crystal growth; Materials; Periodicals; 620.11
• DOI: 10.1016/j.materresbull.2021.111633
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0025-5408

Abstract

Highlight: Efficient synthesis of a novel TiO2 -ZnO heterostructures via two-step microwave route. TiO2 -ZnO photocatalysts effectively degrade and mineralise phenol. We report in situ formation of DSSC working electrode via ZnO acidic washing out. In situ formed electrodes cause a high photovoltaic performance of assembled DSSCs. Abstract: TiO2 -ZnO heterostructures with multifunctional photoactive properties were prepared using the two-stage microwave method. The presence of a binary crystalline system (anatase – wurtzite) was confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM). The multifunctional character of the obtained photoactive materials was evaluated in two different processes – photocatalysis and photovoltaics. Photo-oxidation tests proved that the TiO2 -ZnO heterostructures demonstrate high photocatalytic activity in phenol degradation. Furthermore, the prepared titania-based heterojunction systems were employed as precursors of the semiconducting layers in the DSSCs working electrodes. The photovoltaic parameters of the cells, assembled with electrodes post-treated with TiCl4 solution, have been tremendously improved by as much as forty-fold. Additionally, the scientific novelty of the work should be emphasized, resulting from the utilization of microwave-assisted synthetic strategy for the first time to prepare highly efficient photoactive materials with significant application potential in both photocatalysis and photovoltaics (DSSC cells). Graphical abstract: Image, graphical abstract