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Anchoring Mechanism of ZnO Nanoparticles on Graphitic Carbon Nanofiber Surfaces through a Modified Co‐Precipitation Method to Improve Interfacial Contact and Photocatalytic Performance
Author(s) -
Dillip Gowra Raghupathy,
Banerjee Arghya Narayan,
Anitha Veettikunnu Chandran,
Joo Sang Woo,
Min Bong Ki,
Sawant Sandesh Y.,
Cho Moo Hwan
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
chemphyschem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.016
H-Index - 140
eISSN - 1439-7641
pISSN - 1439-4235
DOI - 10.1002/cphc.201500529
Subject(s) - materials science , photocatalysis , nanoparticle , precipitation , chemical engineering , hybrid material , exfoliation joint , nanotechnology , carbon fibers , carbon nanofiber , phase (matter) , nanofiber , carbon nanotube , composite number , catalysis , composite material , chemistry , organic chemistry , graphene , physics , meteorology , engineering
Abstract A facile three‐step co‐precipitation method is developed to synthesize graphitic carbon nanofibers (CNFs) decorated with ZnO nanoparticles (NPs). By interchanging intermediate steps of the reaction processes, two kinds of nanohybrids are fabricated with stark morphological and physicochemical differences. The morphologies differ because of the different chemical environments of the NP/nanocluster formation. The hybrid with larger and non‐uniform ZnO nanocluster size is formed in liquid phase and resulted in considerable interfacial defects that deteriorate the charge‐transfer properties. The hybrid with smaller and uniform ZnO NPs was formed in a dry solid phase and produced near‐defect‐free interfaces, leading to efficient charge transfer for superior photocatalytic performance. The results broaden the understanding of the anchoring/bonding mechanism in ZnO/CNF hybrid formation and may facilitate further development of more effective exfoliation strategies for the preparation of high‐performance composites/hybrids.