Preparation and Photocatalytic Properties of Metal-Doped ZnO Nanofilms Grown on Graphene-Coated Flexible Substrates

Abstract

A series of metal element (Al, Fe, Mg and Ni)-doped ZnO (M-ZnO) photocatalysts have been successfully synthesized on graphene-coated polyethylene terephthalate (GPET) flexible substrate via the hydrothermal method. The effects of doped metals in ZnO were also studied on the crystal structure, morphology and photocatalytic performance. The photocatalytic experiment results indicated that, compared with Al-, Mg- and Fe-ZnO/GPET photocatalysts under ultraviolet (UV) light irradiation, Ni-ZnO/GPET had better photocatalytic activity, and the degradation rate of methylene blue (MB) was 81.17%. Meanwhile, the mechanism of enhancing the photocatalytic activity of metal element-doped ZnO is also discussed. It is concluded that, after doping with metal elements, electrons and holes are prevented from recombination by trapping electrons of the ZnO/GPET conductive band, thereby improving the photocatalytic activity.

Modulated Luminescence of Lanthanide Materials by Local Surface Plasmon Resonance Effect

“…Sun et al reported a novel platform based on the reduced graphene/molybdenum disulfide films for plasmon-enhanced fluorescence, which has less optical loss and high sensitivities [ 181 ]. Yu et al improved the photocatalytic performance and degradation rate by using metal-doped ZnO nanofilms grown on graphene-coated flexible substrates [ 182 ]. Shao and his co-workers reviewed the two-dimensional (2D) plasmonic nanomaterials in the field of sensing.…”

“…graphene-coated flexible substrates [182]. Shao and his co-workers reviewed the two-dimensional (2D) plasmonic nanomaterials in the field of sensing.…”