Issue 57, 2015

Superhydrophobic polymethylsilsesquioxane pinned one dimensional ZnO nanostructures for water remediation through photo-catalysis

Abstract

ZnO nanostructures have been heavily explored for a variety of sensing properties and of late a major emphasis by researchers has been to find applications for ZnO materials in the domain of photo-catalysis. ZnO nanoparticles have been found as a better alternative to other materials for removing organic dyes from polluted water and the abolition of several hazardous materials etc. In this work we have developed ultra-dense high aspect ratio ZnO nano-forest like structures and explored their potential as photo-catalysts. The films formulated are superhydrophobic (contact angle ∼ 154°) in nature and have been evaluated as containing a high density of oxygen defects in the crystalline state of the ZnO (as validated through photoluminescence measurements). The samples were found to possess enhanced photo-catalytic properties, as measured through a dye degradation process using an UV-Vis spectrophotometer. These photo-catalytic properties may be due to the high defect density and also the enhanced area of the interactive surface as one goes from nano-particles to nano-rod like structures. The paper gives an insight into highly unique carpeted nano-wire bundles of ZnO and offers immense utility to the realization of high efficiency remediation filters.

Graphical abstract: Superhydrophobic polymethylsilsesquioxane pinned one dimensional ZnO nanostructures for water remediation through photo-catalysis

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
15 Feb 2015
Accepted
16 Apr 2015
First published
20 Apr 2015

RSC Adv., 2015,5, 45897-45907

Author version available

Superhydrophobic polymethylsilsesquioxane pinned one dimensional ZnO nanostructures for water remediation through photo-catalysis

A. Gupta, K. Mondal, A. Sharma and S. Bhattacharya, RSC Adv., 2015, 5, 45897 DOI: 10.1039/C5RA02938D

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