Open AccessOptimising processing conditions for the functionalisation of photocatalytic glazes by ZnO nanoparticle deposition
Author(s) -
Héctor Guzmán-Carrillo,
Eva Jiménez-Relinque,
Alejandro Manzano-Ramírez,
Marta Castellote,
M. Romero-Pérez
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
materiales de construcción
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1988-3226
pISSN - 0465-2746
DOI - 10.3989/mc.2021.04921
Subject(s) - photocatalysis , materials science , sintering , nanoparticle , ceramic , coating , coalescence (physics) , chemical engineering , resazurin , composite material , degradation (telecommunications) , deposition (geology) , nanotechnology , metallurgy , catalysis , telecommunications , paleontology , biochemistry , chemistry , physics , sediment , astrobiology , computer science , engineering , biology , microbiology and biotechnology
ZnO nanospheres were synthesised and then deposited by both single- and double-fire fast processes on as-prepared ceramic substrates. The photocatalytic degradation of resazurin ink was tested under UV light. The single-fired samples did not show any evidence of photocatalytic activity because the nanoparticles melted during sintering at 1210°C. The double-fire ZnO spray-coating method successfully produced glazed materials with an active ZnO surface layer despite the high sintering temperature. The influence of experimental parameters, including the ZnO nanoparticle loading (0.03 to 1 mg/cm2) and firing temperature (650 to 800°C), were also investigated. Samples with a ZnO loading of 1 g/cm2 fired at 650°C showed the best photocatalytic activity. Increasing the temperature to 700 and 800°C led to the coalescence of ZnO nanoparticles, which reduced the photocatalytic activity.