Dominating role of crystal structure over defect chemistry in black and white zirconia on visible light photocatalytic activity.

ABSTRACT: Nanometric powder particles of white zirconia were synthesized through precursor route by the pyrolysis of zirconium (IV) butoxide at varied temperatures in air ranging from 900-1400 °C and were predominantly monoclinic in nature. To control the defect chemistry, the precursor was also pyrolyzed in a reduced atmosphere at 900 °C, eventually resulting in black zirconia. The stabilization of tetragonal phase and observed color change from white to black in samples pyrolyzed under reduced atmosphere was attributed to the creation of oxygen vacancies and disorder. The black and white zirconia produced delineated the influence of crystal structure and oxygen vacancies on the photocatalytic performance. Furthermore, zirconia synthesized at lower temperatures (600 and 800 °C) in air confirmed the

SUBMITTER: Teeparthi SR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5882956 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature