Microstructures and photocatalytic properties of ZnO films fabricated by Zn electrodeposition and heat treatment

Abstract Nanostructured zinc oxide (ZnO) thin films were synthesized via an electrodeposition and subsequent heat treatment method. Using the annealing temperatures ranging from 300 °C to 600 °C, the films develop a variation of microstructures of distinct properties and characteristics. Photocatalytic activities of the ZnO films were studied from photodegradation of methylene blue dye under UV light. Overall, the ZnO films show good photodegradation efficiency and photostabilization. The ZnO film fabricated at 500 °C particularly exhibits relatively high surface area and the strongest photocatalytic activity, which is fairly stable after successive reaction cycles.