Anchoring of polymeric precursor on oxygen deficient ZnO nanotubes: A chelation assisted combined nucleation-growth-dissolution synthesis strategy

• Published in: Materials & design Vol. 130; pp. 426 - 432
• Main Authors: Meethal, Bhabhina Ninnora, Pullanjiyot, Nijisha, Swaminathan, Sindhu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 15.09.2017
• Subjects: beta-Aminoethylamine; Chronoamperometry; Photocatalysis; ZnO nanotube; ZnO nanotube; Chronoamperometry; Photocatalysis; beta-Aminoethylamine
• ISSN: 0264-1275; 1873-4197
• DOI: 10.1016/j.matdes.2017.05.090

A template-free method has been adopted to synthesize predominantly oxygen deficient and morphologically tuned zinc oxide nanotubes. A relatively simple sol-gel route was chosen for the same using zinc acetate dihydrate and beta-aminoethylamine as precursors and the feasibility of the photocatalytic activity of the nanotubes was analyzed comprehensively. Etching of the nanotubes was fine-tuned effortlessly by changing the ratio of precursor concentration during synthesis. Here, polymeric precursor plays multiple roles and controls the shape and roughness of the formed nanotubes by serving as a co-ordination assisted precipitation, dissolution, etching and reducing agent. Nonpolar, chelating bi-dentate polymeric precursor anchors both heterogeneous nucleation and dissolution controlled growth in single stretch. Oxygen deficient ZnO nanotubes with varying surface properties were obtained from zinc to beta-aminoethylamine ratio of 2:1, 1:2 and 1:1 (21ZE, 12ZE, 11ZE). Structure, morphology and optical properties of the ZnO nanotubes were systematically examined. Nanotubes with etched surface showed better photocatalytic activity in methylene blue degradation compared to those with non-etched surface. ZnO nanotubes synthesized from equimolar concentration of the precursors (11ZE) showed stable photocurrent in chronoamperometric study with more than 60 percentage degradation of methylene blue within 90min. [Display omitted] •A template-free single step sol-gel method with cost effective precursors for the synthesis of surface etched ZnO nanotubes•Multitasking polymeric precursor controls surface oxygen defects and surface roughness on ZnO•High exciton life time, oxygen vacancies and dye adsorption capability contribute high photocatalytic activity of ZnO nanostructures•Concordance of chronoamperometry results with photocatalysis