Synthesis, characterization and optical properties of sulfur and fluorine doped ZnO nanostructures for visible light utilized catalysis

Zinc oxide and sulfur/fluorine doped ZnO with nanosphere structure are synthesized by facile low cost solid state route. The synthesized material was characterized using XRD (X-ray diffraction), FE-SEM (Field emission scanning electron microscopy), photoluminescence spectroscopy and electrical conductive gas sensor measurements. FE-SEM images are showing spherical aggregated particle morphology, in the case of Fluorine doped ZnO showing flaky pastry shapes and sulphur doped ZnO shows particle with aggregated morphology. DRS and absorbance spectra is utilized to calculate the band gap values of the respective sample. The as prepared materials shows efficient activity towards methylene blue dye degradation and in future it could be utilized in improved photo catalytic and dye sensitized solar cell applications.