Enhanced photocatalytic activity of ZnO nanorods grown from atmospheric pressure spatial atomic layer deposition-derived seeds via chemical bath deposition synthesis

Abstract

Zinc oxide (ZnO) thin films were fabricated using the spatial atomic layer deposition (SALD) technique at atmospheric pressure and subsequently utilized as seed layers for the chemical bath deposition synthesis of ZnO nanorods. The morphological, structural, and optical properties of the resulting nanorods were comprehensively characterized using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and ultraviolet–visible spectrophotometry. The photocatalytic activity of the ZnO nanorods was evaluated for the degradation of organic dyes in wastewater, revealing significantly enhanced photocatalytic capabilities compared to conventional methods. These findings demonstrate the potential of SALD-grown ZnO seed layers for the efficient synthesis of high-performance photocatalytic materials, offering a promising approach for environmental and industrial applications in wastewater treatment.