High-pressure zinc oxide phase as visible-light-active photocatalyst with narrow band gap

Hadi Razavi-Khosroshahi, Kaveh Edalati, Ji Wu, Yuki Nakashima, Makoto Arita, Yoshifumi Ikoma, Masaaki Sadakiyo, Yuji Inagaki, Aleksandar Staykov, Miho Yamauchi, Zenji Horita, Masayoshi Fuji

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

106 Citations (SciVal)

Abstract

Wide band gap of pure ZnO with wurtzite crystal structure (3.1-3.4 eV) limits its photocatalytic activity to the ultraviolet (UV) region of solar spectrum. High-pressure rocksalt polymorph of ZnO can theoretically show narrow band gap; however, the rocksalt phase is unstable at ambient pressure. Herein, rocksalt phase with large fractions of oxygen vacancies is successfully stabilized at ambient conditions by inducing plastic strain in pure ZnO under 6 GPa using the High-Pressure Torsion (HPT) method. Formation of rocksalt phase reduces the band gap of ZnO to 1.8 eV, which is in good agreement with the first-principles calculations, and significantly improves the photocatalytic activity under visible light.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)20298-20303
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of Materials Chemistry A
Volume5
Issue number38
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Sept 2017

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Chemistry
  • Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
  • General Materials Science

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