Visible-Light-Responsive Photocatalytic Activity Significantly Enhanced by Active [VZn+VO+] Defects in Self-Assembled ZnO Nanoparticles

Hierarchical Ordered Mesoporous Sr2Bi4Ti5O18 Microflowers with Rich Oxygen Vacancies In Situ Assembled by Nanosheets for Piezo-Photocatalysis

The Aurivillius phase layered perovskite ferroelectric material Sr2Bi4Ti5O18 (SBTO) exhibits spontaneous polarization and piezoelectric properties, which confer significant potential for piezo-photocatalysis. Its ability to enhance electron-hole separation while providing excellent fatigue resistance positions it as a promising candidate in this field. Defects were introduced to improve the structural polarization and photoelectrochemical properties of SBTO. SBTO nanocrystals, featuring a mixed structure of hierarchically ordered mesoporous microflowers and nanosheets, were successfully synthesized via the hydrothermal method. The SBTO sample synthesized at a lower hydrothermal temperature displayed optimal oxygen vacancy concentration and exhibited superior piezoelectric-photo synergistic degradation activity for organic pollutants. Additionally, corona polarization increases the macroscopic polarization of the SBTO photocatalyst, promoting the separation of photogenerated carriers. Finite element simulations confirmed that a single flower-like SBTO structure generates a higher piezoelectric potential compared to a sheet-like morphology. In conclusion, integrating self-assembled hierarchical structure design, ferroelectric polarization, and defect engineering forms an effective strategy for achieving high-performance SBTO-based layered perovskite piezo-photocatalysts.

Controlled evolution of surface microstructure and phase boundary of ZnO nanoparticles for the multiple sensitization effects on triethylamine detection

In ZnO gas sensors, donor defects (such as zinc interstitials and oxygen vacancies) are considered active sites for the chemical adsorption and ionization of oxygen on the surface of ZnO, which can significantly enhance the sensor's response. However, the influence of the surface microstructure and phase boundaries of ZnO nanoparticles on the chemical adsorption and ionization of surface oxygen has rarely been explored. In this study, we developed a mixed-phase ZnO nanoparticle gas sensor with a rich phase boundary showing 198-50 ppm improvement in response to triethylamine at 340 °C. This is attributed to the generation of defects originating from lattice mismatch at the ZnO - zincite phase boundaries, which providing more active sites for adsorption of oxygen and triethylamine molecules. This work demonstrates a feasible method of combining surface microstructure regulation with pyrolysis strategies to develop ZnO sensors with significantly enhanced gas response performance.

Cytotoxicity of green synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles using Musa acuminata on Vero cells

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) have become a highly regarded substance in various industries especially biologically synthesized ZnO NPs due to their adherence to the principles of green chemistry. However, concerns have been raised regarding the potential cytotoxic effects of ZnO NPs on biological systems. This study aimed to investigate and compare the cytotoxicity of ZnO NPs that were synthesized through chemical (C-ZnO NPs) and green approach using Musa acuminata leaf aqueous extract (Ma-ZnO NPs) on Vero cells. Characterization of ZnO NPs through Uv-Vis, FESEM, EDX, XRD, FTIR and XPS confirmed the successful synthesis of C- and Ma-ZnO NPs. MTT and ROS assays revealed that C- and Ma-ZnO NPs induced a concentration- and time-dependent cytotoxic effect on Vero cells. Remarkably, Ma-ZnO NPs showed significantly higher cell viability compared to C-ZnO NPs. The corelation of ROS and vell viability suggest that elevated ROS levels can lead to cell damage and even cell death. Flow cytometry analysis indicated that Ma-ZnO NPs exposed cells had more viable cells and a smaller cell population in the late and early apoptotic stage. Furthermore, more cells were arrested in the G1 phase upon exposure to C-ZnO NPs, which is associated with oxidative stress and DNA damage caused by ROS generation, proving its higher cytotoxicity than Ma-ZnO NPs. Similarly, time-dependent cytotoxicity and morphological alterations were observed in C- and Ma-ZnO NPs treated cells, indicating cellular damage. Furthermore, fluorescence microscopy also demonstrated a time-dependent increase in ROS formation in cells exposed to C- and Ma-ZnO NPs. In conclusion, the findings suggest that green ZnO NPs possess a favourable biocompatibility profile, exhibiting reduced cytotoxicity compared to chemically synthesized ZnO NPs on Vero cells. These results emphasize the potential of green synthesis methods for the development of safer and environmentally friendly ZnO NPs.

An Eco-friendly Approach to ZnO NP Synthesis Using Citrus reticulata Blanco Peel/Extract: Characterization and Antibacterial and Photocatalytic Activity

Emission of greenhouse gases and infectious diseases caused by improper agro-waste disposal has gained significant attention in recent years. To overcome these hurdles, agro-waste can be valorized into valuable bioactive compounds that act as reducing or stabilizing agents in the synthesis of nanomaterials. Herein, we report a simple circular approach using Citrus reticulata Blanco (C. reticulata) waste (peel powder/aqueous extract) as green reducing and capping/stabilizing agents and Zn nitrate/acetate precursors to synthesize ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) with efficient antimicrobial and photocatalytic activities. The obtained NPs crystallized in a hexagonal wurtzite structure and differed clearly in their morphology. UV-vis analysis of the nanoparticles showed a characteristic broad absorption band between 330 and 414 nm belonging to ZnO NPs. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy of ZnO NPs exhibited a Zn-O band close to 450 cm-1. The band gap values were in the range of 2.84-3.14 eV depending on the precursor and agent used. The crystallite size obtained from size-strain plots from measured XRD patterns was between 7 and 26 nm, with strain between 16 and 4%. The highly crystalline nature of obtained ZnO NPs was confirmed by clear ring diffraction patterns and d-spacing values of the observed lattice fringes. ZnNPeelMan_400 and ZnNExtrMan showed good stability, as the zeta potential was found to be around -20 mV, and reduced particle aggregation. Photoluminescence analysis revealed different defects belonging to oxygen vacancies (VO+ and VO+2) and zinc interstitial (Zni) sites. The presence of oxygen vacancies on the surface of ZnAcExtrMan_400 and ZnAcPeelMan_400 increased antimicrobial activity, specifically against Gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Salmonella enteritidis (S. enteritidis). ZnNExtrMan with a minimal inhibitory concentration of 0.156 mg/mL was more effective against Gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), revealing a high influence of particle size and shape on antimicrobial activity. In addition, the photocatalytic activity of the ZnO NPs was examined by assessing the degradation of acid green dye in an aqueous solution under UV light irradiation. ZnAcPeelMan_400 exhibited excellent photocatalytic activity (94%) within 90 min after irradiation compared to other obtained ZnO NPs.

Rapid synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles via gliding arc discharge: unveiling the impact of discharge time on particle properties and photocatalytic performance

Herein, we present a novel approach for the synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) using a non-thermal plasma source generated by the gliding arc discharge-air system. The effect of discharge time on the physical and optical properties, as well as the photocatalytic performance of the as-fabricated ZnO NPs, was investigated. The characterization techniques revealed that the as-synthesized ZnO exhibit hexagonal Wurtzite structure, with a wide energy gap and peak intensities of UV-vis absorption with longer discharge times. A decrease in particle size from 29 to 25 nm was also observed with increasing discharge time, while all samples were thermally stable between 25 and 700 °C. The photocatalytic performance of the ZnO NPs was evaluated by degrading Congo Red (CR) dye with a concentration of 20 ppm under sunlight at a dose of 1 mg/mL. The as-synthesized ZnO NPs revealed exceptional photocatalytic performance by degrading ~ 97% of CR dye after irradiation for 150 min. This work presents an easy and simple method for synthesizing NPs in a short time and pave the way for other potential ideas on the application of plasma gliding arc discharge.

Green Synthesis of Metal-Doped ZnO Nanoparticles Using Bauhinia racemosa Lam. Extract and Evaluation of Their Photocatalysis and Biomedical Applications

A fascinating problem in the fields of nanoscience and nanobiotechnology has recently emerged, and to tackle this, the production of metal oxide nanoparticles using plant extracts offers numerous benefits over traditional physicochemical methods. In the present investigation, ZnO nanoparticles were fabricated from Bauhinia racemosa Lam. (BR) leaves extract with various transition metal (TM) dopants (Ni, Mn, and Co). Plant leaves extract containing metal nitrate solutions were utilized as a precursor to synthesize the pristine and TM-doped ZnO nanoparticles. Structural, functional, optical, and surface properties of the fabricated samples were studied by using physicochemical and photoelectrochemical measurements. The organic pollutants tetracycline (TC), ampicillin (AMP), and amoxicillin (AMX) were used in the photocatalytic degradation assessment of the fabricated samples. Through X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) investigation, the fabricated nanoparticles wurtzite crystal structure was verified. Moreover, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) analysis verified the existence of functional groups in the fabricated nanoparticles. The migration of electrons from the deep donor level and zinc interstitial to the Zn-defect and O-defect is related to the emission peaks seen at 468, 480, 534, and 450 nm in photoluminescence (PL) spectra. Co-ZnO nanoparticles demonstrated potent and excellent photocatalytic degradation performance for TC (91.09%), AMP (87.97%), and AMX (92.42%) antibiotics within 210, 180, and 150 min of visible light irradiation. Co-ZnO nanoparticles also demonstrated strong antimicrobial performance against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, and Bacillus subtilis. Further investigation of in vitro cytotoxic potential against the A549 cell line (IC50 = 24 ± 0.5 μg/mL) utilizing MTT assay and the free radical scavenging performance of Co-ZnO nanoparticles estimated by DPPH assay utilizing l-ascorbic acid as a reference was also performed. Anti-inflammatory potential is also reviewed by comparing it with the standard drug Diclofenac, and the maximum activity was obtained for Ni-ZnO nanoparticles (IC50 = 72.4 μg/mL).

Associating Physical and Photocatalytic Properties of Recyclable and Reusable Blast Furnace Dust Waste

Blast furnace dust waste (BFDW) proved efficient as a photocatalyst for the decolorization of methylene blue (MB) dye in water. Structural analysis unequivocally identified α-Fe2O3 as the predominant phase, constituting approximately 92%, with a porous surface showcasing unique 10-30 nm agglomerated nanoparticles. Chemical and thermal analyses indicated surface-bound water and carbonate molecules, with the main phase's thermal stability up to 900 °C. Electrical conductivity analysis revealed charge transfer resistance values of 616.4 Ω and electrode resistance of 47.8 Ω. The Mott-Schottky analysis identified α-Fe2O3 as an n-type semiconductor with a flat band potential of 0.181 V vs. Ag/AgCl and a donor density of 1.45 × 1015 cm-3. The 2.2 eV optical bandgap and luminescence stem from α-Fe2O3 and weak ferromagnetism arises from structural defects and surface effects. With a 74% photocatalytic efficiency, stable through three photodegradation cycles, BFDW outperforms comparable waste materials in MB degradation mediated by visible light. The elemental trapping experiment exposed hydroxyl radicals (OH•) and superoxide anions (O2-•) as the primary species in the photodegradation process. Consequently, iron oxide-based BFDW emerges as an environmentally friendly alternative for wastewater treatment, underscoring the pivotal role of its unique physical properties in the photocatalytic process.

Defects Healing of the ZnO Surface by Filling with Au Atom Catalysts for Efficient Photocatalytic H2 Production

Healed defects on photocatalysts surface and their interaction with plasmonic nanoparticles (NPs) have attracted attention in H2 production process. In this study, surface oxygen vacancy (Vo ) defects are created on ZnO (Vo -ZnO) NPs by directly pyrolyzing zeolitic imidazolate framework. The surface defects on Vo -ZnO provide active sites for the diffusion of single Au atoms and as nucleation sites for the formation of Au NPs by the in situ photodeposition process. The electronically healed surface defects by single Au atoms help in the formation of a heterojunction between the ZnO and plasmonic Au NPs. The formed Au/Vo -Au:ZnO-4 heterojunction prolongs photoelectron lifetimes and increases donor charge density. Therefore, the optimized photocatalysts of Au/Vo -Au:ZnO-4 has 21.28 times higher H2 production rate than the pristine Vo -ZnO under UV-visible light in 0.35 m Na2 SO4 and 0.25 m Na2 SO3 . However in 0.35 m Na2 S and 0.25 m Na2 SO3 , the H2 production rate is 25.84 mmole h-1 g-1 . Furthermore, Au/Vo -Au:ZnO-4 shows visible light activity by generating hot carries via induced surface plasmonic effects. It has 48.58 times higher H2 production rate than pristine Vo -ZnO. Therefore, this study infers new insight for defect healing mediated preparation of Au/Vo -Au:ZnO heterojunction for efficient photocatalytic H2 production.

Nanostructural Design of ZnO Using an Agro-Waste Extract for a Sustainable Process and Its Photocatalytic Activity

The use of agro-waste extracts (AWEs) as a sustainable medium for developing cost-effective and ecologically friendly nanomaterials has piqued the interest of current researchers. Herein, waste extracts from papaya barks, banana peels, thumba plants, and snail shells were used for synthesizing ZnO nanostructures via a hydrothermal method, followed by calcination at 400 °C. The crystallinity and pure wurtzite phase formation of ZnO nanostructures were confirmed via X-ray diffraction. ZnO nanostructures with various morphologies such as tight sheet-like, spherical, porous sheet-like, and bracket-shaped, comprising small interconnected particles with a highly catalytically active exposed (0001) facet, were observed via field emission scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The formation mechanism of the various morphologies of the ZnO nanostructures was proposed. Ultraviolet-visible spectra showed different absorption band edges of ZnO nanostructures with a bandgap in the range of 3.17-3.27 eV. Photoluminescence studies showed the presence of various defect states such as oxygen and zinc vacancies and oxygen and zinc interstitials on ZnO nanostructures, which are usually observed in traditionally prepared ZnO. The photocatalytic activity of ZnO nanostructures was evaluated under direct sunlight using rhodamine B (RhB) and Congo red (CR) dyes as probe pollutants. Furthermore, prepared ZnO nanostructures could potentially adsorb anionic dyes (e.g., CR) in the absence of light. Superoxide and hydroxide radicals played a vital role in the photocatalytic activity of ZnO. The photocatalyst could be reused for up to three cycles, indicating its stability. Therefore, this study reports the diverse use of AWEs as cost-effective media for nanomaterial synthesis.

Oxygen Vacancies and Surface Wettability: Key Factors in Activating and Enhancing the Solar Photocatalytic Activity of ZnO Tetrapods

This paper reports on the high photocatalytic activity of ZnO tetrapods (ZnO-Ts) using visible/solar light and hydrodynamic water flow. It was shown that surface oxygen defects are a key factor in the photocatalytic activity of the ZnO-Ts. The ability to control the surface wettability of the ZnO-Ts and the associated concentration of surface defects was demonstrated. It was demonstrated that the photocatalytic activity during the MB decomposition process under direct and simulated sunlight is essentially identical. This presents excellent prospects for utilizing the material in solar photocatalysis.

Melamine-Assisted Thermal Activation Method for Vacancy-Rich ZnO: Calcination Effects on Microstructure and Photocatalytic Properties

Defect engineering is considered an effective method to adjust the photocatalytic properties of materials. In this work, we synthesized the vacancy-rich ZnO rods with (100) planes via the melamine-assisted thermal activation method. A high concentration of oxygen vacancies was successfully introduced into non-polar oriented ZnO rods by calcination. The effect of oxygen vacancy on the photocatalytic properties of non-polar-oriented ZnO rods was investigated. Raman and XPS spectra revealed the formation of oxygen vacancies in the ZnO. The results showed that the growth habit and defects in ZnO can be controlled by changing the ratio of ZnO to melamine. The higher ratio of ZnO to melamine led to more amounts of (100) planes and oxygen vacancies in ZnO, and it reached the highest when the ratio was 1.2:1. When the ratio was 1.2:1, ZnO exhibited a high methyl orange degradation rate (95.8%). The differences in oxygen vacancy concentration and non-polar planes were responsible for the improvement in photocatalytic performance. ZnO exhibited good stability and regeneration capacity. After recycling four times, the degradation rate was still at 92%. Using the same method, vacancy-rich α-Fe₂O₃ was obtained. This work could offer a new and simple strategy for designing a photocatalyst with oxygen vacancies.

Impact on the Photocatalytic Dye Degradation of Morphology and Annealing-Induced Defects in Zinc Oxide Nanostructures

In this study, three different morphologies, nanoflower (NF), nano sponge (NS), and nano urchin (NU), of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanostructures were synthesized successfully via a mild hydrothermal method. After synthesis, the samples were annealed in the atmosphere at 300, 600, and 800 °C. Although annealing provides different degradation kinetics for different morphologies, ZnO NS performed significantly better than other morphologies for all annealing temperatures we used in the study. When the photoluminescence, electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, BET surface, and X-ray diffraction analysis results are examined, it is revealed that the defect structure, pore diameter, and crystallinity cumulatively affect the photocatalytic activity of ZnO nanocatalysts. As a result, to obtain high photocatalytic activity in rhodamine B (RhB) degradation, it is necessary to develop a ZnO catalyst with fewer core defects, more oxygen vacancies, near band emission, large crystallite size, and large pore diameter. The ZnO NS-800 °C nanocatalyst studied here had a 35.6 × 10^-3 min^-1 rate constant and excellent stability after a 5-cycle photocatalytic degradation of RhB.

Heterostructure charge transfer dynamics on self-assembled ZnO on electronically different single-walled carbon nanotubes

The charge transfer kinetics of the catalyst particles play a key role in advanced oxidation processes (AOP) for the complete destruction of recalcitrant and persistent contaminants in water. Here, a significant improvement in the photocatalytic performance is observed in the Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube (SWCNT)-ZnO heterostructure photocatalyst. The charge transfer dynamics and factors affecting AOP are studied using ZnO nanoparticles self-assembled onto three electronically different SWCNTs (metallic, semiconducting, and pristine) via the precipitation method, introducing a heterojunction interface. The creation of the SWCNT/ZnO heterostructure interface improves charge transfer and separation, resulting in a charge carrier lifetime of 7.37 ns. Also, surface area, pore size, and pore volumes are increased by 4.2 times compared to those of ZnO. The nanoparticles-coated face-mask fabric used as the floating photocatalyst exhibited high stability and recyclability with 99% RhB degradation efficiency under natural sunlight and 94% under UV light after the 5th cycle. The surface and crystal defects-oxygen or zinc defects/interstitials open new reaction active sites that assist in charge carrier transfer and act as pollutant absorption and interaction sites for enhanced performance. The ideal band edge positions of the valence band and conduction band favor the generation of H2O/OH•, OH·/OH, and O2/HO2• reactive oxygen species. OH• radicals are found to play a vital role in this AOP by using ethanol as an OH• scavenger.

Photocatalytic aerobic oxidative functionalization (PAOF) reaction of benzyl alcohols by GO-MIL-100(Fe) composite in glycerol/K2CO3 deep eutectic solvent

An MIL-100 (Fe)/graphene oxide (GO) hybrid, a fairly-known composite, was made through a simple one-step procedure and played a highlighted role in the photo-induced oxidative functionalization of the benzylic C–H bond. To identify the given binary composite, various techniques were applied: FT-IR, P-XRD, SEM, nitrogen absorption–desorption analysis, TGA, TEM, and UV–Visible DRS spectra. Proportions of GO used within the structure of the prepared composite differently ranged from low to high amount, and the most optimized ratio met at 38.5% of GO as the most efficient catalyst. Additionally, the reaction ran in Glycerol/K₂CO₃ (2:1) as the optimal solvent. The elemental roles of O₂^·− and OH⁻ were supposed to be the major ones for running a tandem oxidation-Knoevenagel reaction. The heterogeneity and reusability of the catalyst were also examined and confirmed after five successive runs.

MOF-derived nanocrystalline ZnO with controlled orientation and photocatalytic activity

We show here that MOF-5, a sample Zn-based MOF, can uniquely transform into distinct zinc oxide nanostructures. Inspired by the interconversion synthesis of zeolites, we converted MOF-5 into nanocrystalline ZnO. We found the conversion of MOF-5 into ZnO to be tunable and straightforward simply by controlling the treatment temperature and choosing an appropriate structure-directing agent (SDA). Refined X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns showed that a synthesis temperature of 180 °C (sample ZnO-180) was optimal for achieving high crystallinity. We examined ZnO-180 with high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), which confirmed that the samples were made of individual crystallites grown along the c-axis, or the (001) direction, thus exposing lower energy surfaces and corroborating the XRD pattern and the molecular dynamics calculations. Further investigations revealed that the obtained ZnO at 180 °C has a superior photocatalytic activity in degrading methylene blue to other ZnO nanostructures obtained at lower temperatures.

Evaluation of the Photocatalytic Activity of Distinctive-Shaped ZnO Nanocrystals Synthesized Using Latex of Different Plants Native to the Amazon Rainforest

ZnO nanocrystals with three different morphologies have been synthesized via a simple sol-gel-based method using Brosimum parinarioides (bitter Amapá) and Parahancornia amapa (sweet Amapá) latex as chelating agents. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and electron diffraction patterns (SAED) patterns showed the ZnO nanocrystals were a pure hexagonal wurtzite phase of ZnO. XRD-based spherical harmonics predictions and HRTEM images depicted that the nanocrystallites constitute pitanga-like (~15.8 nm), teetotum-like (~16.8 nm), and cambuci-like (~22.2 nm) shapes for the samples synthesized using bitter Amapá, sweet Amapá, and bitter/sweet Amapá chelating agent, respectively. The band gap luminescence was observed at ~2.67-2.79 eV along with several structural defect-related, blue emissions at 468-474 nm (V_O, V_Zn, Zn_i), green emissions positioned at 513.89-515.89 (h-VO+), and orange emission at 600.78 nm (VO+-VO++). The best MB dye removal efficiency (85%) was mainly ascribed to the unique shape and oxygen vacancy defects found in the teetotum-like ZnO nanocrystals. Thus, the bitter Amapá and sweet Amapá latex are effective chelating agents for synthesizing distinctive-shaped ZnO nanocrystals with highly defective and remarkable photocatalytic activity.

Oxygen Vacancy-Dependent Chemiluminescence: A Facile Approach for Quantifying Oxygen Defects in ZnO

Defect engineering is an effective strategy to improve the catalytic activity of metal oxides, and quantitative characterization of surface defects is thus vital to the understanding and application of metal oxide catalysts. Herein, we found that ZnO nanoparticles with oxygen vacancy could trigger the luminol-H₂O₂ system to emit a strong chemiluminescence (CL), and the CL intensity was strongly dependent on the oxygen vacancy of the ZnO nanoparticles. The mechanism of this CL reaction was discussed by means of the electron-spin resonance spectrum, X-ray photoelectron spectrum (XPS), and CL spectrum. The oxygen vacancy-dependent CL was attributed to the ability of the oxygen vacancy to readily adsorb and further dissociate H₂O₂ into active ^•OH radicals. Taking advantage of this oxygen vacancy-dependent CL, we presented one method for quantifying the oxygen defects in ZnO. Compared with the current evaluation techniques (XPS and Raman spectroscopy), this CL method is rapid, low-cost, and easy to operate. This work introduces the CL technique into the field of material structure-property evaluation, and provides a new approach for exploring the defect function in ZnO defect engineering.

Fractal-Stereometric Correlation of Nanoscale Spatial Patterns of GdMnO3 Thin Films Deposited by Spin Coating

Multiferroic systems are of great interest for technological applications. To improve the fabrication of thin films, stereometric and fractal analysis of surface morphology have been extensively performed to understand the influence of physical parameters on the quality of spatial patterns. In this work, GaMnO3 was synthesized and thin films were deposited on Pt(111)/TiO2/SiO2/Si substrates using a spin coating apparatus to study the correlation between their stereometric and fractal parameters. All films were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), where the structure and microstructure of the film sintered at 850 °C was investigated by Rietveld refinement. Topographic maps of the films were obtained using an atomic force microscope (AFM) in tapping mode. The results show that the film sintered at 850 °C exhibited a clear formation of a GdMnO3 orthorhombic structure with crystallite size of ~14 nm and a microstrain higher than other values reported in the literature. Its surface morphology presented a rougher topography, which was confirmed by the height parameters. Topographic differences due to different asymmetries and shapes of the height distributions between the films were observed. Specific stereometric parameters also showed differences in the morphology and microtexture of the films. Qualitative rendering obtained by commercial image processing software revealed substantial differences between the microtextures of the films. Fractal and advanced fractal parameters showed that the film sintered at 850 °C had greater spatial complexity, which was due to their higher topographic roughness, lower surface percolation and greater topographic uniformity, being dominated by low dominant special frequencies. Our combination of stereometric and fractal measurements can be useful to improve the fabrication process by optimizing spatial patterns as a function of the sintering temperature of the film.