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    Surface Functionalization of Grown-on-Tip ZnO Nanopyramids: From Fabrication to Light-Triggered Applications

    Year: 2019

    Journal: ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces, Volume 11, MAY 1, page 15881–15890

    Authors: Gasparotto, Alberto; Maccato, Chiara; Carraro, Giorgio; Sada, Cinzia; Stangar, Urska Lavrencic; Alessi, Bruno; Rocks, Conor; Mariotti, Davide; La Porta, Andrea; Altantzis, Thomas; Barreca, Davide

    Organizations: Padova University ACTION postdoc fellowship [DOR 2016-2018]; P-DiSC [03BIRD2016-UNIPD]; HERALD COST Action [MP1402-37831]; EPSRCUK Research & Innovation (UKRI)Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) [EP/R008841/1, EP/M024938/1]; Slovenian Research AgencySlovenian Research Agency - Slovenia [P1-0134]; Research Foundation Flanders (FWO, Belgium)FWO

    Keywords: ZnO-based nanomaterials; surface engineering; photoinduced superhydrophilicity; self-cleaning; photocatalysis

    We report on a combined chemical vapor deposition (CVD)/radio frequency (RF) sputtering synthetic strategy for the controlled surface modification of ZnO nanostructures by Ti-containing species. Specifically, the proposed approach consists in the CVD of grown-on-tip ZnO nanopyramids, followed by titanium RF sputtering under mild conditions. The results obtained by a thorough characterization demonstrate the successful ZnO surface functionalization with dispersed Ti-containing species in low amounts. This phenomenon, in turn, yields a remarkable enhancement of photoactivated superhydrophilic behavior, self-cleaning ability, and photocatalytic performances in comparison to bare ZnO. The reasons accounting for such an improvement are unravelled by a multitechnique analysis, elucidating the interplay between material chemico-physical properties and the corresponding functional behavior. Overall, the proposed strategy stands as an amenable tool for the mastering of semiconductor-based functional nanoarchitectures through ad hoc engineering of the system surface.
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