Transparent glass-nanocomposites possessing piezoelectric ZnO/Zn2SiO4 nanocrystallites for piezocatalytic dye degradation

Abstract

Transparent glass nanocomposites comprising piezoelectric ZnO and β-Zn₂SiO₄ nanocrystallites in 44SiO₂–11Al₂O₃–35ZnO–10K₂O (mol%) glass matrix were explored for piezocatalytic dye degradation application. X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy confirmed the crystalline phases of ZnO and β-Zn₂SiO₄ in glass-nanocomposite samples. The scanning electron microscopy images evidenced the presence of nanocrystals on the surface of glass-nanocomposite samples. UV-visible spectroscopy revealed the adequate transparency of glass-nanocomposite samples. Piezocatalytic dye degradation experiments were performed with the use of glass-nanocomposite piezocatalysts using sonication energy. Glass-nanocomposite samples were optimized for piezocatalytic dye degradation performance as well as transparency through tuning heat treatments. It was found that the glass-nanocomposite heat-treated at 750 °C–2 h showed the best piezocatalytic dye degradation performance and higher transparency among other samples heat treated at 750 °C–4 h and 750 °C–6 h.