Photocatalytic activity of heterostructures based on ZnO and N-doped ZnO

Different composite films prepared by coupling ZnO and nitrogen-doped ZnO (N-ZnO) were used to photodegrade humic acids (HA). The catalysts exhibit an activity in the order of glass/ZnO/N-ZnO > glass/N-ZnO >glass/ZnO > glass/N-ZnO/ZnO when light is irradiated from the film to glass substrate. However, glass/ZnO/N-ZnO exhibits a lower activity than glass/N-ZnO/ZnO when light is illuminated from glass to film. Moreover, glass/ZnO/N-ZnO shows a lower activity when light is irradiated from glass to film than that irradiated in the opposite direction. These results suggest that it is not always the case that the presence of a heterojunction at interface of two semiconductors can definitely result in improving the photoactivity of the heterostructure although it can suppress the recombination of photogenerated charge carriers. They also indicate that photodegradation of HA is mainly via the oxidization by HO• (rather than directly by O(2)(-) and h(+)), which is produced mainly by the reactions with h(+). This implies the importance of fabrication a right heterojunction at the interface between the composite materials when they are used for photocatalysis. We envision that this work will help to develop new photocatalysts, as well as to understand better the photocatalytic mechanism.