Fabrication of Au:ZnO thin films by a solution-assisted route for application in photo-electrocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB)

The influence of Au doping in ZnO thin films was studied with respect to photoelectrocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB). Influence of Au doping concentration onto PEC structural morphological, optical and luminescence properties of the ZnO thin films were thoroughly investigated. The maximum value of Isc and Voc for 3 at. % Au:ZnO thin films confirms the optimization of doping percentage. XRD and SEM were used to study the structure and morphology of the films. Films were nanocrystalline and exhibit a hexagonal crystal structure with no additional phases of gold compounds. For degradation of MB, Au:ZnO films were used as photoelectrode, it was observed that due to Au:ZnO 80% degradation of MB occurs in 150 min. Moreover, large area (100 cm2) Au doped ZnO thin films have been prepared on FTO coated glasses (10–15 Ω). Photocorrosion of ZnO electrode was examined by atomic absorption spectroscopy and no zinc was observed in AAS measurement. Copyright © 2017 VBRI Press.