Abstract
Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide composite thin films were prepared on Corning 7059 glass substrates by co-sputtering. The reactive gas-surroundings used was ultrahigh purity oxygen. To analyze the structural, optical and photocatalytic properties of the ZnO–TiO2 samples, X-ray diffraction (XRD), atomic force microscopy (AFM), optical absorption, Raman spectroscopy and methylene blue bleaching were carried out at room temperature. XRD patterns indicate the presence of TiO2 (anatase and rutile phases), ZnO, ZnTiO3, and Zn2TiO4 crystalline structures. AFM images allow the observation of non-homogeneous surface in the ZnO–TiO2 system, suggesting the separation of different crystalline phases in the composite. Raman studies exhibit different spectra in the films depending on the area analyzed, which can be interpreted as a result of the existence of well separated crystalline regions as seen in AFM images. The photocatalytic activity (PA) of TiO2–ZnO–ZnTiO3–Zn2TiO4 composite, as expected for adequate coupling semiconductors, is larger than PA of ZnO and TiO2 oxides, used as references. A simple proposal about the probable alignment of the conduction band, the valence band, and the Fermi level is included.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
L. Jing, B. Xin, F. Yuan, B. Wang, H. Fu, J. Phys. Chem. B 110, 17860 (2006)
S. Janitabar-Darzi, A.R. Mahjoub, J. Alloys Compd. 486, 805 (2009)
S.A. Mayén-Hernández, G. Torres-Delgado, R. Castanedo-Pérez, J.G. Mendoza- Alvarez, O. Zelaya-Angel, J. Adv. Oxid. Technol. 10, 90 (2007)
G. Marci, V. Augugliario, M.J. López-Muñoz, C. Martin, L. Palmisano, V. Rives, M. Schiavello, R.J.D. Tilley, A.M. Venezia, J. Phys. Chem. B 105, 1033 (2001)
Y. Gui, S. Li, J. Xu, C. Li, Microelectron. J. 39, 1120 (2008)
R.S. Mane, W.J. Lee, H.M. Pathan, S.H. Han, J. Phys. Chem. B 109, 24254 (2005)
S.H. Hwang, J. Song, Y. Jung, O.Y. Kweon, H. Song, J. Jang, Chem. Commun. 47, 9164 (2011)
Z. Zhang, Y. Yuan, Y. Fang, L. Liang, H. Ding, L. Jing, Talanta 73, 523 (2007)
S.A. Ruffolo, M.F. La Russa, M. Malagodi, C. Oliviero Rossi, A.M. Palermo, G.M. Crisci, Appl. Phys. A 100, 829 (2010)
Z. Xiwen, L. Cencen, H. Gaorong, Mater. Sci. Forum 620–622, 707 (2009)
M. Zhang, T. An, X. Liu, X. Hu, G. Sheng, J. Fu, Mater. Lett. 64, 1883 (2010)
Z. Liu, D. Zhou, S. Gong, H. Li, J. Alloys Compd. 475, 840 (2009)
R. Ramaseshan, S. Ramakrishna, J. Am. Ceram. Soc. 90, 1836 (2007)
C.T. Wang, J.C. Lin, Appl. Surf. Sci. 254, 4500 (2008)
L. Hou, Y.D. Hou, M.K. Zhu, J. Tang, J.B. Liu, H. Wang, H. Yan, Mater. Lett. 59, 197 (2005)
J.Z. Kong, A.D. Li, H.F. Zhai, H. Li, Q.Y. Yan, J. Ma, D. Wu, J. Hazard. Mater. 171, 918 (2009)
PDF 26-500 (ZnTiO3), PDF 78-1509 (TiO2-Rutile), PDF 77-0014 (TiZn2O4), JCPDS 36-1451(ZnO-Hex), PDF 73-1764 (TiO2-Anatase)
Y.V. Kolen’ko, K.A. Kovnir, A.I. Gavrilov, A.G. Garshev, P.E. Meskin, B.R. Churagulov, M. Bouchard, C. Colbeau-Justin, O.I. Lebedev, G.V. Tendelov, M. Yoshimura, J. Phys. Chem. B 109, 20303 (2005)
B.S. Barros, R. Barbosa, N.R. dos Santos, T.S. Barros, M.A. Souza, Inorg. Mater. 42, 1348 (2007)
H.L. Ma, J.Y. Yang, Y. Dai, Y.B. Zhang, B. Lu, G.H. Ma, Appl. Surf. Sci. 253, 7497 (2009)
S. Sedpho, D. Wongratanaphisan, P. Mangkorntong, N. Mangkorntong, S. Choopun, CMU J. Nat. Sci. 7, 99 (2008)
F.J. Manjon, B. Mari, J. Serrano, A.H. Romero, J. Appl. Phys. 97, 053516 (2005)
B. Cheng, W. Sun, J. Jiao, B. Tian, Y. Xiao, S. Lei, J. Raman Spectrosc. 41, 1221 (2010)
S.P.S. Porto, P.A. Fleury, T.C. Damen, Phys. Rev. 154, 522 (1967)
T. Santhaveesuk, D. Wongratanaphisan, N. Mangkomontg, S. Choopun, Adv. Mater. Res. 55–57, 641 (2008)
W. Su, J. Zhang, Z. Feng, T. Chen, P. Ying, C. Li, J. Phys. Chem. 112, 7710 (2008)
B. Cheng, J. Jiao, W. Sun, B. Tian, Y. Xiao, S. Lei, Nanotechnology 21, 25704 (2010)
R. Jothilaskmi, V. Ramakrishnam, R. Thangavel, J. Kumar, A. Sarua, J. Raman Spectrosc. 40, 556 (2009)
Z. Wang, S.K. Saxena, C.S. Zha, Phys. Rev. B 66, 024103 (2002)
S.A. Mayen-Hernandez, G. Torres-Delgado, R. Castanedo-Pérez, M. Gutierrez-Villarreal, A. Cruz-Orea, J.G. Mendoza Alvarez, O. Zelaya-Angel, J. Mater. Sci., Mater. Electron. 18, 1127 (2007)
S.-C. Jung, S.-J. Kim, N. Imaishi, Y.-I. Cho, Appl. Catal. B, Environ. 55, 253 (2005)
K.H. Yoon, J. Cho, D.H. Kang, Mater. Res. Bull. 34, 1451 (1999)
L.I. Greene, M. Law, B.D. Yuhas, P. Yang, J. Phys. Chem. C 111, 18451 (2007)
C.W. Zhou, W. Gao, Trans. Electr. Electron. Mater. 11, 1 (2010)
A.M. Linsebigler, G. Lu, J.T. Yates Jr., Chem. Rev. 95, 735 (1995)
N. Serpone, J. Photochem. Photobiol. A, Chem. 85, 247 (1995)
K. Vinodgopal, P.V. Kamat, Environ. Sci. Technol. 29, 841 (1995)
L. Yang, Y. Zhang, W. Ruan, B. Zhao, W. Xu, J.R. Lombardi, J. Raman Spectrosc. 41, 721 (2010)
D. Reyes-Coronado, G. Rodríguez-Gattorno, M.E. Espinosa-Pesqueira, C. Cab, R. de Coss, G.O. Oskam, Nanotechnology 19, 145605 (2008)
S.A. Studenikin, N. Golego, M. Cocivera, J. Appl. Phys. 84, 5001 (1998)
V. Srikant, D.R. Clarke, J. Appl. Phys. 83, 5447 (1998)
S.J. Pearton, C.R. Abernathy, M.E. Overberg, G.T. Thaler, D.P. Norton, N. Theodoropoulou, A.F. Hebard, Y.D. Park, F. Ren, J. Kim, L.A. Boatner, J. Appl. Phys. 93, 1 (2003)
S.V. Bhat, F.L. Deepak, Solid State Commun. 135, 345 (2005)
K. Mozzami, T.E. Murphy, J.D. Phillips, M.C.-K. Cheung, A.N. Catwright, Semicond. Sci. Technol. 21, 717 (2006)
J.J. Lu, Y.M. Lu, S.I. Tasi, T.L. Hsiung, H.P. Wang, L.Y. Jang, Opt. Mater. 29, 1548 (2007)
G.A. Hope, A.J. Bard, J. Phys. Chem. 87, 1979 (1983)
M. Wang, C. Huang, Y. Cao, Q. Yu, W. Guo, Q. Liu, J. Liang, M. Hong, Nanotechnology 20, 285311 (2009)
J.H. Nob, H.S. Han, S. Lee, D.H. Kim, J.H. Park, S. Park, J.Y. Kim, H.S. Jung, H.S. Hong, J. Phys. Chem. C 114, 13867 (2010)
C. Ye, S.S. Pan, X.M. Teng, H.T. Fan, G.H. Li, Appl. Phys. A 90, 375 (2008)
J. Mrázek, L. Spanhel, G. Chadeyron, V. Matêjec, J. Phys. Chem. C 114, 2843 (2010)
J.S. Jang, P.H. Borse, J.S. Lee, K.T. Lim, O.-S. Jung, E.D. Jeong, J.S. Bae, M.S. Won, H.G. Kim, Bull. Korean Chem. Soc. 30, 3021 (2009)
L. Xu, H. Shen, X. Li, R. Zhu, Chin. Opt. Lett. 7, 953 (2009)
Y. Matsumoto, J. Solid State Chem. 126, 227 (1996)
Y. Xu, M.A.A. Schoonen, Am. Mineral. 85, 543 (2000)
Acknowledgements
The authors are grateful with M. Guerrero, R. Fragoso, A. Soto, A. Garcia and Dr. M. Becerril for their technical assistance. This work was supported by ICYTDF-México.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
García-Ramírez, E., Mondragón-Chaparro, M. & Zelaya-Angel, O. Band gap coupling in photocatalytic activity in ZnO–TiO2 thin films. Appl. Phys. A 108, 291–297 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-012-6890-x
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-012-6890-x