Film-form ZnO/AAO photo-catalysts: Facile synthesis and surface feature-dependent photo-catalytic activity

• The in situ technique was developed to prepare the ZnO/AAO film.
• Pore sizes and Zn sources were key factors affecting ZnO surface features.
• Surface features of film-form ZnO affected their photo-catalytic activity.
• ZnO films with special surface features had the potential as photo-catalysts.

Environment pollution is shadowing human life and the photo-catalytic technique is supplying the light to eliminate the contaminants. Although the nano-photo-catalysts are extremely popular because of their excellent photo-catalytic activity, the inherent shortcomings, such as the difficulties at operation and recycle, are driving the innovation of the photo-catalytic technique. The objectives of this study were to recommend the opinion about “film-form photo-catalysts” because of their relatively facile operation and separation property from the environment after application. Here, an in-situ technique was successfully developed to fabricate a series of the film-form ZnO photo-catalysts on porous alumina matrixes. The qualitative and quantitative analysis revealed that the alumina pore sizes and Zn sources were the keys to affecting the surface features of photo-catalysts. Meanwhile, the photo-degradation efficiency of the film-form ZnO photo-catalysts on methyl orange under sunlight irradiation is positively relative to the alumina pore size and ZnO content. Besides, the inhibition effect of the film-form ZnO photo-catalysts on the growth of Staphyloccocus aureus was demonstrated to be another advantage for them while application. With these findings, it could be concluded that the film-form ZnO products with special features are a promising candidate at environment control.

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