Photoelectrocatalytic degradation of sugarcane factory wastewater using WO3/ZnO thin films

In the present work, layered WO3/ZnO thin films have been prepared by simple chemical spray pyrolysis method. As prepared films are characterized by photoelectrochemical (PEC) solar cell, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), Brunauer–Emmer–Teller (BET) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy techniques. XRD analysis reveals the formation of hexagonal and monoclinic phases of ZnO and WO3 respectively. Raman analysis confirms the formation of layered WO3/ZnO thin films. FE-SEM images demonstrate that the surface morphology of layered WO3/ZnO consists of nano balls like morphology. The specific surface area of the layered WO3/ZnO thin film is found to be 65.12 m2 g−1. The photoelectrocatalytic degradation properties of layered WO3/ZnO thin films were investigated by studying degradation of sugarcane factory wastewater. The end result shows that the degradation percentage of sugarcane factory wastewater using layered WO3/ZnO photo electrode has reached 94.44% after 100 min. under sunlight illumination.