Effect of the Heat Treatment Sequence in Forming WO3/SnO2/CuO Nanocomposites on the Photocatalytic Properties Illuminated by UV and Sunlight Irradiation

Autor: Fabiana V. Motta, Mauricio R. D. Bomio, N. F. Andrade Neto, T. T. A. Rezende
Rok vydání: 2021
Předmět:
Zdroj: Journal of Electronic Materials. 50:7150-7164
ISSN: 1543-186X
0361-5235
DOI: 10.1007/s11664-021-09229-4
Popis: In this work, the photocatalytic performance of WO3/SnO2/CuO thin films and pure oxides in degrading methylene blue (MB) dye under ultraviolet (UV) and sunlight irradiation was investigated. The pure oxide resins were prepared using the complex polymerization method (CPM) and the films were deposited using dip-coating. Two heat treatment pathways (Route 1 and 2) were used in the process to obtain the nanocomposites, with all samples calcined at a temperature of 500°C. The characterizations used were x-ray diffraction (XRD), atomic force microscopy (AFM), field emission gun scanning electron microscopy (FEG-SEM), energy dispersion spectroscopy (EDS), UV–Visible spectroscopy (UV–Vis), and wettability tests. The x-ray diffraction results confirmed the formation of monoclinic and tetragonal crystalline structures, and there was also the formation of a sub-stoichiometric WO3 phase and SnWO4 in the Route 2 nanocomposite, which indicated chemical interaction between the interfaces. The contact angle measurements indicated that the nanocomposites remained hydrophilic even after UV irradiation and storage in the dark. The photocatalytic activity was tested and the results showed that the films degrade when exposed to UV and sunlight irradiation. The maximum photocatalytic activity (89%) was obtained in sunlight irradiation and remained practically unchanged after six cycles of use, indicating that even immobilized nanocatalysts are promising for self-cleaning coatings and degradation of MB dye.
Databáze: OpenAIRE
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