Synthesis of Zinc Oxide by Sol–Gel Method for Photoelectrochemical Cells (SpringerBriefs in Materials)

This book focuses on the study of synthesized ZnO powder using Zn(CH3COO)2∙2H2O precursor, methanol (as solvent), and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) to vary the pH. The successfully synthesized ZnO powder from the sol-gel centrifugation and sol-gel storage methods were characterized and investigated by X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, UV–visible spectroscopy, and photoluminescence test to compare the properties of the nanoparticles. The best characteristic of the ZnO powder from both methods was observed when the powders were coated on an ITO glass to fabricate a PEC. The current density–voltage performances of both PECs were investigated under luminescent and dark conditions. Preface 5 Acknowledgments 7 Contents 8 1 ZnO Nanocrystalline Metal Oxide Semiconductor Via Sol Gel Method 10 Abstract 10 1.1...Introduction 10 1.2...ZnO: Properties and Applications 11 1.3...ZnO: Nanoparticle Synthesis Techniques 13 1.4...ZnO: Synthesis Via the Sol--Gel Method 13 1.5...Summary 16 References 16 2 ZnO: Effect of pH on the Sol--Gel Process 18 Abstract 18 2.1...ZnO: Sol--Gel Process at Various pH Values 18 2.2...ZnO: Structural Analysis 19 2.3...ZnO: Morphological Analysis 23 2.4...ZnO: Growth Mechanism 27 2.5...ZnO: Chemical Interaction Analysis 29 2.6...ZnO: Optical Analysis 30 2.7...Summary 32 References 32 3 ZnO: Effect of Centrifugation and Storage on Sol--Gel Process 35 Abstract 35 3.1...ZnO: Comparison Between Sol--Gel Centrifugation and Sol--Gel Storage 35 3.2...ZnO: Physical Appearance 36 3.3...ZnO: Structural and Crystallite Size Analysis 37 3.4...ZnO: Morphological Analysis 41 3.5...ZnO: Optical Analysis 44 3.6...Summary 46 References 46 4 ZnO: Photoelectrochemical Cells Analysis 48 Abstract 48 4.1...PEC: Construction and Operation 48 4.2...ZnO: Photoelectrochemical Cell Working Electrode 49 4.3...Performance of ITO--ZnO/Gel Polymer Electrolyte (GPE)/Au--ITO Cell 50 4.4...Performance of Cu--ZnO/GPE/C--ITO Cell 53 4.5...Summary 56 References 56 Index 58 This book focuses on the study of synthesized ZnO powder using Zn(CH3COO)2 2H2O precursor, methanol (as solvent), and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) to vary the pH. The successfully synthesized ZnO powder from the sol-gel centrifugation and sol-gel storage methods were characterized and investigated by X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, UV visible spectroscopy, and photoluminescence test to compare the properties of the nanoparticles. The best characteristic of the ZnO powder from both methods was observed when the powders were coated on an ITO glass to fabricate a PEC. The current density voltage performances of both PECs were investigated under luminescent and dark conditions Front Matter....Pages i-x ZnO Nanocrystalline Metal Oxide Semiconductor Via Sol Gel Method....Pages 1-8 ZnO: Effect of pH on the Sol–Gel Process....Pages 9-25 ZnO: Effect of Centrifugation and Storage on Sol–Gel Process....Pages 27-39 ZnO: Photoelectrochemical Cells Analysis....Pages 41-50 Back Matter....Pages 51-52