Study of photocatalytic properties of electrodeposited silver and zinc oxide thin films

In the present study, Ag (silver) and ZnO (zinc oxide) nanolayers were grown on Cu (copper) substrates by electrodeposition method. After deposition of layers, photocatalystic behavior of Ag and ZnO thin layers were studied and compared together. Crystalline structures of nanolayers were studied by means of diffraction pattern X-ray diffraction (XRD), and average of crystallite size was calculated by debye scherrer formula. The morphology of layers was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The Energy Dispersive X ray (EDX) analysis determined the precent of elements existed in electrodeposited thin films. Kinetic roughening of surface of both thin layers were studied by using atomic force microscope (AFM). Finally, photocatalytic properties, and the effect of ZnO and Ag were investigated on the degradation of acid violet and methyl orange azo dyes. The photocatalytic behaviors of Ag and ZnO thin films on acid violet and methyl orang under UV radiation were investigated by UV-Vis spectra.