Black ZnO/C nanocomposite photocatalytic films formed by one-step sol–gel technique

Abstract

We developed a facile one-step sol–gel technique for fabrication of black zinc oxide/carbon (ZnO/C) nanocomposite films demonstrating an enhanced photocatalytic activity. Amorphous carbon covering ZnO grains inside the films was reduced from organic components of the zinc acetate based sol calcinated at 500 °C. The amount of carbon in the films can be controlled by varying the amount of zinc chloride added to the zinc acetate based sols. The surface layer of the films is composed by randomly oriented hexagon-shaped ZnO grains. Photoluminescence quenching indicating the suppression of electron-hole recombination in the prepared ZnO/C composites were observed. The recorded optical transmittance/reflectance spectra and the performed photocatalytic tests demonstrated that the synthesized ZnO/C nanocomposite is promising for photoinduced decomposition of organic compounds. Related peculiarities are discussed.