ZnO/Carbon xerogel photocatalysts by low-pressure plasma treatment, the role of the carbon substrate and its plasma functionalization.

ZnO is known to be photocatalytic, but with limited performances due to the strong electron-hole recombination after irradiation. The integration of ZnO nanomaterials on a conductive and high surface area carbon substrate is thus a potential alternative to obtain a significant improvement of the photocatalytic performance. Moreover, the carbon functionalization is expected to have a significant role in the adsorption/degradation mechanisms of dye, due to the difference in wettability or surface charge.