Photovoltaic and photocatalytic performance of electrospun Zn2SnO4 hollow fibers

• Published in: Applied catalysis. B, Environmental Vol. 203; pp. 692 - 703
• Main Authors: Das, Partha Pratim, Roy, Anurag, Tathavadekar, Mukta, Devi, P. Sujatha
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.04.2017
• Subjects: Dense-hollow microstructure; Green emitting-non fluorescent; Phase purity; Photovoltaic-photocatalytic performance; Zn2SnO4 fiber; Zn2SnO4 fiber; Green emitting-non fluorescent; Photovoltaic-photocatalytic performance; Dense-hollow microstructure; Phase purity
• ISSN: 0926-3373; 1873-3883
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apcatb.2016.10.035

[Display omitted] The phase pure hollow Zn2SnO4 and green emitting ZnO-SnO2-Zn2SnO4 composite fiber exhibiting enhanced photovoltaic and photocatalytic applications have been prepared by electro spinning technique. •Phase pure Zn2SnO4 and ZnO-SnO2-Zn2SnO4 composite fibers were prepared by electrospin technique.•The samples exhibited distinct difference in photovoltaic performance and photocatalytic activity.•The composite fiber of ZnO-SnO2-Zn2SnO4 performs better as a photocatalyst.•1.93% efficiency has been achieved for the pure Zn2SnO4 porous fiber with N719 dye. The phase pure hollow Zn2SnO4 and green emitting ZnO-SnO2-Zn2SnO4 composite fiber have been prepared by post calcining the as formed fiber by electrospin technique. Depending upon the calcination temperature, the as prepared fiber exhibited a striking variation in composition, microstructure, optical and photo-electrochemical properties. The composition dependent dissimilarity in photovoltaic performance and photocatalytic activity has been established in this work. A relatively enhanced open circuit voltage (Voc) of 0.76V, fill factor (FF) of 59.78%, short circuit current (Jsc) of 4.2mA/cm2 and an overall conversion efficiency (ɳ) of 1.93% have been achieved for the phase pure Zn2SnO4 porous fiber obtained at the elevated calcination temperature of 1000°C. On the contrary, a relatively reduced Voc, FF, JSC and ɳ of 0.70V, 42.54%, 3.8mA/cm2 and 1.17%, respectively, have been achieved for the 800°C calcined dense fiber consisting of a mixture of three distinct phases ZnO, SnO2 and Zn2SnO4. Unlike photovoltaic behaviour the trend in photocatalytic performance interestingly got reversed for the ZnO-SnO2-Zn2SnO4 composite fiber owing to its superior photo-induced charge separation ability followed by generation of larger amount of active hydroxyl radicals (OH.). Our results establish the composite fiber as a preferred photocatalyst in comparison to phase pure Zn2SnO4 towards the textile dyes Methylene blue and Congo red and non absorbing organic pollutants such as Phenol and Bisphenol A under UV illumination.