title: Photocatalytic activity and reusability of ZnO layer synthesised by electrolysis, hydrogen peroxide and heat treatment.
abstract: In this study, the zinc oxide (ZnO) layer was synthesised on the surface of Zn plates by three different techniques, i.e. electrolysis, hydrogen peroxide and heat treatment. The synthesised ZnO layers were characterised using scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, UV-visible diffuse reflectance and photoluminescence spectroscopy. The photocatalytic activity of the ZnO layer was further assessed against methylene blue (MB) degradation under UV irradiation. The photocatalytic degradation of MB was achieved up to 84%, 79% and 65% within 1 h for ZnO layers synthesised by electrolysis, heat and hydrogen peroxide treatment, respectively. The reusability results show that electrolysis and heat-treated ZnO layers have considerable photocatalytic stability. Furthermore, the results confirmed that the photocatalytic efficiency of ZnO was directly associated with the thickness and enlarged surface area of the layer. Finally, this study proved that the ZnO layers synthesised by electrolysis and heat treatment had shown better operational stability and reusability.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Civil Engineering , Universiti Teknologi Malaysia , Skudai , Malaysia.
authors.forename: Syaiful
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Akhmal Saadon
authors.affiliation: b Centre for Environmental Sustainability and Water Security (IPASA), Research Institute for Sustainable Environment (RISE), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia , Skudai , Malaysia.
authors.forename: Palanivel
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sathishkumar
authors.affiliation: b Centre for Environmental Sustainability and Water Security (IPASA), Research Institute for Sustainable Environment (RISE), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia , Skudai , Malaysia.|c Department of Chemistry , Universiti Teknologi Malaysia , Skudai , Malaysia.
authors.forename: Abdull Rahim
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Mohd Yusoff
authors.affiliation: c Department of Chemistry , Universiti Teknologi Malaysia , Skudai , Malaysia.
authors.forename: Mohd Dzul
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Hakim Wirzal
authors.affiliation: c Department of Chemistry , Universiti Teknologi Malaysia , Skudai , Malaysia.
authors.forename: Muhammad Taufiq
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Rahmalan
authors.affiliation: d Ibnu Sina Institute for Fundamental Science Studies, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia , Skudai , Malaysia.
authors.forename: Hadi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nur
mesh_terms: D004572:Electrolysis / Q000379:methods*; D017743:Equipment Reuse; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000737:chemistry*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010782:Photolysis; D015034:Zinc Oxide / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D015034:Zinc Oxide
keywords: Advanced oxidation processes; electrolysis; heat treatment; hydrogen peroxide treatment; photocatalysis; zinc oxide