Wet Synthesis of Elongated Hexagonal ZnO Microstructures for Applications as Photo-Piezoelectric Catalysts.
Rosanna PaganoChiara IngrossoGabriele GiancaneLudovico ValliSimona BettiniPublished in: Materials (Basel, Switzerland) (2020)
It is well known that energetic demand and environmental pollution are strictly connected; the side products of vehicle and industrial exhausts are considered extremely dangerous for both human and environmental health. In the last years, the possibility to simultaneously photo-degrade water dissolved pollutants by means of ZnO nanostructures and to use their piezoelectric features to enhance the photo-degradation process has been investigated. In the present contribution, an easy and low-cost wet approach to synthetize hexagonal elongated ZnO microstructures in the wurtzite phase was developed. ZnO performances as photo-catalysts, under UV-light irradiation, were confirmed on water dissolved methylene blue dye. Piezoelectric responses of the synthetized ZnO microstructures were evaluated, as well, by depositing them into films onto flexible substrates, and a home-made layout was developed, in order to stimulate the ZnO microstructures deposited on solid supports by means of mechanical stress and UV photons, simultaneously. A relevant increment of the photo-degradation efficiency was observed when the piezopotential was applied, proposing the present approach as a completely eco-friendly tool, able to use renewable energy sources to degrade water solved pollutants.
Keyphrases
- room temperature
- quantum dots
- visible light
- low cost
- reduced graphene oxide
- heavy metals
- healthcare
- human health
- electron transfer
- light emitting
- highly efficient
- risk assessment
- public health
- gold nanoparticles
- wastewater treatment
- mental health
- climate change
- health risk assessment
- single molecule
- health promotion
- high speed
- water quality