Photoelectrocatalytic activity of spray deposited ZnO thin films againstE. coliDavis

Zinc oxide (ZnO) thin films have been deposited onto fluorine doped tin oxide coated glass substrates by economical chemical spray pyrolysis technique. Films were deposited using various quantities of solution from 50 to 200 cc (substrate temperature 400°C, solution concentration 0·2M) in order to achieve different thicknesses. The films were characterised by X-ray diffraction, SEM, AFM and optical absorption techniques. The films exhibit a hexagonal wurtzite crystal structure with preferred (002) orientation. Morphological study showed a smooth and nanocrystalline surface of ZnO films. Direct optical band gap energy of ZnO thin films is found to be 3·24 eV. The average transmission is of the order of 87% in the visible region. The photoelectrocatalytic response of the film against Escherichia coli Davis is studied using a specially designed photoelectrochemical (PEC) reactor module. Thickness and UV light dependent photoelectrocatalytic bactericidal properties of ZnO thin films have been investig...