ERIC Number: EJ1145977
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2017-Jun
Pages: 5
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0021-9584
EISSN: N/A
Properties of Semiconductors: Synthesis of Oriented ZnO for Photoelectrochemistry and Photoremediation
Koenig, Emma; Jacobs, Ari; Lisensky, George
Journal of Chemical Education, v94 n6 p738-742 Jun 2017
Semiconductors are an important class of materials; preparing ZnO nanorods allows semiconducting properties to be easily observed. The week before lab, groups of four students take 15 min to setup two fluorine-doped tin oxide glass (FTO) slides in a zinc nitrate and hexamethylenetetramine solution stored at 90°C until the next lab. Hexagonal ZnO nanorods oriented along the c-axis are produced, as shown by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images. Semiconductor properties are observed by measuring the band gap by UV-visible absorption spectroscopy and exposing samples to UV light to excite electrons into the conduction band. One pair of students obtains SEM and photoelectrochemical measurements, while the other pair obtains an absorption spectrum, XRD scan, and methylene blue kinetic data. The primary pedagogic goal of the experiment is to reinforce semiconductor concepts where two teams collaborate to summarize their evidence that ZnO is a semiconductor.
Descriptors: Science Instruction, College Science, Undergraduate Study, Inorganic Chemistry, Cooperative Learning, Energy, Science Laboratories, Spectroscopy, Science Experiments, Laboratory Experiments, Light, Scientific Concepts
Division of Chemical Education, Inc and ACS Publications Division of the American Chemical Society. 1155 Sixteenth Street NW, Washington, DC 20036. Tel: 800-227-5558; Tel: 202-872-4600; e-mail: eic@jce.acs.org; Web site: http://pubs.acs.org/jchemeduc
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive; Guides - Classroom - Teacher
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: Teachers
Language: English
Sponsor: National Science Foundation (NSF)
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: DMR1121288; DUE1022895