Fabrication of novel ZnO nanoporous films for efficient photocatalytic applications

Optimization Temperature Programming of Microwave-Assisted Synthesis ZnO Nanoneedle Arrays for Optical and Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering Applications

This study used a rapid and simple microwave-assisted synthesis method to grow ZnO nanoneedle arrays on the silicon substrate with the ZnO seed layer. The effects of reaction temperature and time on the lengths of ZnO nanoneedle arrays were investigated. The appropriate temperature programming step can grow the longer ZnO nanoneedle arrays at the same reaction time (25 min), which is 2.08 times higher than without the temperature programming step. The geometry of the ZnO nanoneedle arrays features a gradual decrease from the Si substrate to the surface, which provides an excellent progressive refractive index between Si and air, resulting in excellent antireflection properties over an extensive wavelength range. In addition, the ZnO nanoneedle arrays exhibit a suitable structure for uniform deposition of Ag nanoparticles, which can provide three-dimensional hot spots and surface active sites, resulting in higher surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) enhancement, high uniformity, high reusability, and low detection limit for R6G molecule. The ZnO/Ag nanoneedle arrays can also reveal a superior SERS-active substrate detecting amoxicillin (10^-8 M). These results are promising for applying the SERS technique for rapid low-concentration determination in different fields.

Reduction of hazardous reactive oxygen species (ROS) production of ZnO through Mn inclusion for possible UV-radiation shielding application

Mn_x - ZnO_(1-x) nanopowders were successfully synthesised through a simple sol-gel method. The samples were annealed at 300 °C to enhance their crystallinity. The lattice structure, morphology and optical properties of the prepared powdered samples were extensively studied using different characterization techniques, confirming the formation of Mn_x - ZnO_(1-x). The inclusion of Mn did not cause any change to the wurtzite structure of ZnO; however slight peak shifting and increase in lattice parameters were indicated. The normal absorption spectra pointed to a cut-off edge extending beyond the UV region and a Burstein- Moss type band gap broadening induced by the Mn doping. ZnO showed excellent photodegradation activity against methylene blue (MB) upon UV irradiation. Intensifying the dopant concentration resulted in further diminution of photoactivity against MB. This reduction of photocatalytic activity of ZnO upon doping can be drawn to be due to the presence of Mn in the ZnO lattice, which acted as recombination sites for the photogenerated charge carriers. The results demonstrated that doping ZnO with Mn can be used to suppress the oxidative stress induced by reduced oxygen species (ROS) through generation of recombination centres. The suppression of toxic ROS generation implies possible application in fabrics and ointments for UV shielding applications.