Surface modification of oxygen-deficient ZnO nanotubes by interstitially incorporated carbon: a superior photocatalytic platform for sustainable water and surface treatments

Abstract

An interesting architecture of robust, highly reproducible, template-free synthesis of phase pure carbon-incorporated short ZnO nanotubes through polymer assisted sol–gel method is presented here. These nanotubes exhibit enormous surface oxygen vacancies and mid bandgap levels confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. These carbon-modified nanotubes exhibit encouraging results in photocatalytic studies, as there is a 16% greater degradation of contaminant dye than in the pristine ZnO nanotube. The reactive oxygen species generated from the photocatalysts were experimentally confirmed and quantified. Super hydrophilic nature renders these nanotubes suitable for antifogging application as observed from contact angle measurements. Characterisation and mechanism of a competent material with improved photoresponse, promising greater energy efficiency and anti-fog have been described in this investigation.