Photocatalytic activity of ZnO films with micro-grid structure

Abstract

A layer of zinc oxide (ZnO) micro-grid was deposited on the surface of ZnO film using the DC reactive magnetron sputtering method and the micro-sphere lithography technique on glass substrates. Samples of this layer were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and ultraviolet-visible light spectroscopy. X-ray diffraction showed the high crystallinity of ZnO film and the regular arrangement of the micro-grid. The micro-grid ZnO has a lower specular reflection and a higher diffuse reflection, allowing incident light to reflect two or three times to enhance the usage of light. Photocatalytic degradation experiments on methylene blue using both ZnO micro-grid and ordinary film showed that the ZnO micro-grid has better photocatalytic properties than ordinary film. The ZnO micro-grid enhanced the photocatalytic efficiency of ZnO film by 28% with a degradation time of 300min.

Keywords

Photocatalysis / ZnO micro-grid / polystyrene latex spheres template / diffuse reflection