Influence of precursors and formation of heterostructures towards the enhanced photocatalytic activity of ZnO thin films deposited by spray pyrolysis

ZnO thin films were deposited by spray pyrolysis using different precursors. The effect of change in precursor on the structural, morphological, optical and photocatalytic properties were studied. In order to improve the visible light photocatalytic activity of sprayed ZnO film SnSe, CdSe thin films were deposited on ZnO by vacuum evaporation. In order to investigate the characteristics of the film, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and UV–Vis spectroscopy are used. Photoluminescence spectra result confirmed a change in recombination of charge carriers. Further minimization of recombination was achieved by the formation of heterostructures. The photocatalytic degradation of MB, MO, RhB and phenol were studied under visible irradiation at room temperature. The photodegradation of MB and phenol was determined to be 75% and 55% for 180 min of irradiation with ZnO thin film as a photocatalyst, whereas an improved efficiency of 87% and 74% was observed for the heterostructure film ZA/SnSe during the same irradiation time, respectively.