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Surface modification of oxygen-deficient ZnO nanotubes by interstitially incorporated carbon: a superior photocatalytic platform for sustainable water and surface treatments

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Abstract

An interesting architecture of robust, highly reproducible, template-free synthesis of phase pure carbon-incorporated short ZnO nanotubes through polymer assisted sol–gel method is presented here. These nanotubes exhibit enormous surface oxygen vacancies and mid bandgap levels confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. These carbon-modified nanotubes exhibit encouraging results in photocatalytic studies, as there is a 16% greater degradation of contaminant dye than in the pristine ZnO nanotube. The reactive oxygen species generated from the photocatalysts were experimentally confirmed and quantified. Super hydrophilic nature renders these nanotubes suitable for antifogging application as observed from contact angle measurements. Characterisation and mechanism of a competent material with improved photoresponse, promising greater energy efficiency and anti-fog have been described in this investigation.

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Acknowledgements

The authors Bhabhina and Rajita acknowledge Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and University Grant Commission (UGC) for the financial assistance in the form of research and teacher fellowships. Author Sindhu acknowledges Council for Scientific and Industrial research (CSIR), Government of India for the financial support received in the form of research grant (no. 03(1285)/13/EMR-II). Authors are grateful to Dr. Sujith A and Suja P Sundaran of National Institute of Technology, Calicut, India, for their help in contact angle measurements.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nanoscience and Technology, University of Calicut, Kerala, 673635, India

    Bhabhina Ninnora Meethal, Rajita Ramanarayanan & Sindhu Swaminathan

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  1. Bhabhina Ninnora Meethal
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  2. Rajita Ramanarayanan
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  3. Sindhu Swaminathan
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Correspondence to Sindhu Swaminathan.

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Ninnora Meethal, B., Ramanarayanan, R. & Swaminathan, S. Surface modification of oxygen-deficient ZnO nanotubes by interstitially incorporated carbon: a superior photocatalytic platform for sustainable water and surface treatments. Appl Nanosci 8, 1545–1555 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13204-018-0809-6

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