Electrochemical deposition of flower-like ZnO nanoparticles on a silver-modified carbon nanotube/polyimide membrane to improve its photoelectric activity and photocatalytic performance

ZnO nanoparticles have been synthesized on a silver-modified carbon nanotube/polyimide (Ag-CNT/PI) membrane by electrochemical deposition. For comparison, a CNT/PI membrane was also obtained. The effect of the improved substrate on the structural, optical, photoelectric and photocatalytic characteristics of ZnO was examined. The flower-like ZnO nanoparticles was formed by the aggregation of nanosheets. The characterization of X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectra verified that the silver nanoparticles were distributed onto the nanotube. The absorption spectrum provided a band gap of 3.29 eV, which was confirmed by the band gap measurement. The photoelectric property of ZnO was investigated by current–voltage and open circuit potential measurements. The results demonstrated that the photoelectric activity and photocatalytic performance of ZnO were improved by the deposition.