Photoelectrocatalytic degradation of sugarcane factory wastewater using WO3/ZnO thin films

• Published in: Journal of materials science. Materials in electronics 2018-03, Vol.29 (5), p.3808-3816
• Main Authors: Hunge, Y. M., Yadav, A. A., Mohite, B. M., Mathe, V. L., Bhosale, C. H.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry and Materials Science; Degradation; Field emission microscopy; Materials Science; Morphology; Optical and Electronic Materials; Photovoltaic cells; Scanning electron microscopy; Spectrum analysis; Spray pyrolysis; Sugarcane; Thin films; Tungsten oxides; Wastewater; X-ray diffraction; X-ray spectroscopy; Zinc oxide
• ISSN: 0957-4522; 1573-482X
• DOI: 10.1007/s10854-017-8316-1

In the present work, layered WO 3 /ZnO thin films have been prepared by simple chemical spray pyrolysis method. As prepared films are characterized by photoelectrochemical (PEC) solar cell, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), Brunauer–Emmer–Teller (BET) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy techniques. XRD analysis reveals the formation of hexagonal and monoclinic phases of ZnO and WO 3 respectively. Raman analysis confirms the formation of layered WO 3 /ZnO thin films. FE-SEM images demonstrate that the surface morphology of layered WO 3 /ZnO consists of nano balls like morphology. The specific surface area of the layered WO 3 /ZnO thin film is found to be 65.12 m 2  g −1 . The photoelectrocatalytic degradation properties of layered WO 3 /ZnO thin films were investigated by studying degradation of sugarcane factory wastewater. The end result shows that the degradation percentage of sugarcane factory wastewater using layered WO 3 /ZnO photo electrode has reached 94.44% after 100 min. under sunlight illumination.