Electrochemical deposition of flower-like ZnO nanoparticles on a silver-modified carbon nanotube/polyimide membrane to improve its photoelectric activity and photocatalytic performance

摘要

ZnO nanoparticles have been synthesized on a silver-modified carbon nanotube/polyimide (Ag-CNT/PI) membrane by electrochemical deposition. For comparison, a CNT/PI membrane was also obtained. The effect of the improved substrate on the structural, optical, photoelectric and photocatalytic characteristics of ZnO was examined. The flower-like ZnO nanoparticles was formed by the aggregation of nanosheets. The characterization of X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectra verified that the silver nanoparticles were distributed onto the nanotube. The absorption spectrum provided a band gap of 3.29 eV, which was confirmed by the band gap measurement. The photoelectric property of ZnO was investigated by current-voltage and open circuit potential measurements. The results demonstrated that the photoelectric activity and photocatalytic performance of ZnO were improved by the deposition.