Sains Malaysiana 49(12)(2020): 3089-3095

http://dx.doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2020-4912-21

Influence of Multilayer Al-Doped ZnO Thin Film on Photocatalytic Degradation of Methyl Blue

(Pengaruh Filem Nipis ZnO Terdop-Al Berbilang Lapis pada Degradasi Fotokatalitik Metil Biru)

LISZULFAH ROZA¹*, VIVI FAUZIA² & MOHD. YUSRI ABD. RAHMAN³

¹Program Studi Pendidikan Fisika, Fakultas Keguruan dan Ilmu Pendidikan, Universitas Muhammadiyah, Prof. Dr. Hamka, Jakarta Timur, Indonesia

²Departemen Fisika, Fakultas MIPA, Universitas Indonesia, Depok 16424, Indonesia

³Institute of Microengineering and Nanoelectronics (IMEN), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

Received: 21 August 2020/Accepted: 31 August 2020

ABSTRACT

The present work is focused on the photocatalytic activities of Al-doped ZnO sample deposited with different layers on glass substrate. The Al-doped ZnO sample was prepared via simple and cost effectiveness chemical precipitation method with addition of 5 wt. % of Aluminum chloride as dopant. All materials were dissolved in mixture of 45 mL ethylene glycol and 15 mL deionized water while the growth process was carried out at temperature 200 °C for 30 min assisted with stirring process at 550 rpm using hotplate. The precipitated of as prepared sample were deposited with different layers on glass substrate using spin coating process. The samples were characterized by UV-Vis spectrophotometer, Raman spectroscopy, and photoluminescence to investigate the optical properties and crystal structure of ZnO sample. In particular, according to UV-Vis the absorption spectra of the sample significantly increase as the number of layers increase. Meanwhile, Raman and photoluminescence analysis indicate that the sample contains lots of structural defect as a result of the incorporation of ion Al into ZnO lattice. The photocatalytic activity of Al-doped ZnO thin film with different layers was evaluated in degradation of methyl blue solution under UV light illumination. The best photocatalytic activity was observed from 6 layers of Al-doped ZnO thin film within 45 min of exposure to UV light illumination. This study may open a versatile route to achieving high efficiency of photocatalytic activity of ZnO.

Keywords: Al-doped ZnO; methyl blue; optical properties; photocatalyst

ABSTRAK

Fokus kajian ini adalah pada aktiviti fotokatalitik sampel ZnO terdop-Al yang diendap dengan lapisan berbeza pada substrat kaca. Sampel ZnO terdop-Al dihasilkan melalui kaedah pemendakan kimia yang mudah serta keberkesanan dari segi kos dengan penambahan 5 % bt. aluminium klorida sebagai bahan dop. Semua bahan dilarutkan di dalam campuran 45 mL etilena glikol dan 15 mL air ternyahion sementara proses pertumbuhan dilakukan pada suhu 200 °C selama 30 min dibantu dengan proses pengacauan pada kelajuan 550 rpm menggunakan plat pemanas. Sampel termendap telah diendapkan dengan lapisan berbeza pada substrat kaca menggunakan proses salutan putar. Sampel dicirikan oleh spektrofotometer UV-Vis, spektroskopi Raman dan fotoluminesens untuk mengkaji sifat optik dan struktur kristal sampel ZnO. Menurut hasil UV-Vis, spektrum penyerapan sampel menunjukkan peningkatan ketara apabila bilangan lapisan meningkat. Sementara itu, analisis Raman dan fotoluminesens menunjukkan bahawa sampel mengandungi banyak kecacatan struktur akibat penggabungan ion Al ke dalam kekisi ZnO. Aktiviti fotokatalitik filem nipis ZnO terdop-Al dengan lapisan yang berbeza dinilai berdasarkan degradasi larutan metil biru di bawah pencahayaan sinar UV. Aktiviti fotokatalitik terbaik diperhatikan dengan menggunakan 6 lapisan filem nipis ZnO terdop-Al dalam masa 45 min selepas pencahayaan sinar UV. Kajian ini dapat membuka jalan serba boleh untuk mencapai aktiviti fotokatalitik ZnO yang berkecekapan tinggi.

Kata kunci: Fotokatalis; metil biru; sifat optik; ZnO terdop-Al

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*Corresponding author; email: liszulfahroza@uhamka.ac.id