The project, led by Assoc. Prof. Huỳnh Thị Kiều Xuân, focused on developing advanced ZnO thin films modified with F, N, and Ag for photocatalytic applications in wastewater treatment, demonstrating significant progress in enhancing the efficiency of organic pollutant degradation. The research successfully met its objectives, resulting in two publications in SCIE-indexed journals, as well as the successful training of one master’s student and seven bachelor’s graduates.

On the morning of 24th October, the VNUHCM-University of Science hosted an evaluation meeting for a Type B VNUHCM-level project, led by Assoc. Prof. Huỳnh Thị Kiều Xuân. The VNUHCM Scientific and Technological Project Evaluation Council assessed the project titled “Synthesis of ZnO Thin Films Modified with F, N, and Ag on a Zn Substrate for Photocatalytic Applications”, which had made significant progress in the field of photocatalysis. This project focused on developing next-generation photocatalytic materials based on ZnO, aiming to enhance the efficiency of treating organic pollutants in industrial wastewater.

Photocatalysis using semiconductor materials has been recognised as a promising method for wastewater treatment, especially for organic dyes. Among semiconductor materials, TiO2 has traditionally been the most commonly used due to its effectiveness in decomposing pollutants. However, in order to enhance performance and reduce costs, researchers had been exploring alternative materials, with ZnO emerging as a strong candidate due to its low cost, high chemical stability, non-toxicity, and superior photocatalytic activity.

The research team developed ZnO thin films on a Zn-coated Cu metal substrate using the sol-gel spin coating method, aiming to address the limitations of powder-based catalysts. The thin films not only facilitated easy recovery after the treatment process but also improved light absorption, thereby enhancing photocatalytic efficiency. These films were further doped with F, N, and Ag through thermal shock techniques, which helped improve the degradation of pollutants such as MB, MO, RhB, and E110 under both long-wavelength ultraviolet light and visible light.

The results demonstrated that the ZnO films on Zn-coated Cu substrates provided both mechanical strength and high photocatalytic activity, due to improvements in surface morphology and the presence of material defects after modification. As a result, this photocatalytic system showed significant potential for applications in wastewater treatment.

The evaluation council concluded that the project had successfully met all its objectives, achieving excellent results: two international papers had been published in SCIE-indexed journals, and one master’s student and seven bachelor’s graduates had been successfully trained.

Hữu Chí _ Translated by ℙ𝕄ℕ