Synthesis of Metal Semiconducting Metal Oxide and Sulfide Nanomaterials for Catalysis and Photocatalysis

Abstract

The thesis entitled Synthesis of Metal, Semiconducting Metal Oxide and Sulfide Nanomaterials for Catalysis and Photocatalysis deals with the synthesis of semiconductor nanostructures for the rapid developments in science and engineering that are evolving at a very fast pace in the field of nanoscience and nanotechnology. The synthesized nanomaterials were used in different applications such as photocatalysis and electrocatalysis. First chapter of the thesis describes a literature overview about the fundamentals of semiconductors, hybrid nanostructures, metal nanoparticles, properties, and applications of nanomaterials. Additionally, the chapter describes the history of nanoscience and various synthetic method used for the synthesis of nanomaterials. Overall, the background of the present research work has been explained in this chapter. Second chapter of the thesis gives a brief account of the chemicals, methods, and instrumentation techniques are used to furnish the whole thesis work. Chapter three delineates the synthesis of zinc oxide nanoflower in alkaline medium via hydrothermal route using CTAB surfactant. The synthetic strategy also involves the preparation of ZnO/Au and ZnO/Ag by depositing silver and gold nanoparticles on nanoflower using hydrazine hydrate as a reducing agent. The comparative efficiency and reusability of ZnO/Au and ZnO/Ag for the methylene blue and phenol degradation under irradiation of visible and UV light have been presented in the chapter. Chapter four demonstrates the synthesis of cone and dumbbell-shaped ZnO nanoparticles on the surface of graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) using hexamethylenetetramine and ammonia as hydrolyzing agents. The control experiments were performed to clarify the different morphologies. The visible light activity and recyclability of the as-prepared semiconductor heterostructure have been explored by degradation of phenol and methylene blue pollutants. Chapter five provides insight into the synthesis of both mono- (Au and Pd) and bimetallic (AuPd) nanop