Metal Oxide Nanostructures For Photoelectrochemical, Photocatalytic And Optoelectronic Applications

Salih, Amar

Metal Oxide Nanostructures For Photoelectrochemical, Photocatalytic And Optoelectronic Applications

Salih, Amar

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Publication Type:: Thesis
Issue Date:: 2025

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Salih, Amar
dc.date.accessioned	2025-11-03T04:04:45Z
dc.date.available	2025-11-03T04:04:45Z
dc.date.issued	2025
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/190599
dc.description	University of Technology Sydney. Faculty of Science.	en_US.UTF-8
dc.description.abstract	The demand for sustainable technological solutions to environmental and energy challenges is driving extensive research into innovative nanomaterials. This work explores the synthesis, modification, and application of metal oxide nanostructures in sustainable technologies, including microalgae biomass harvesting for green fuel production, hydrogen evolution, and the enhancement of electronic properties in environmental optoelectronic devices. For microalgae biomass harvesting, ZnO coatings deposited via magnetron sputtering onto stainless steel (SST) and alumina (ALO) membranes significantly enhance membrane performance. ZnO-coated SST membranes exhibit a two-fold increase in water flux and recover 60% of permeability upon UV irradiation after fouling. ZnO-coated ALO membranes display improved hydrophilicity, reducing flux decline and enabling full flux recovery upon solar light exposure. Regarding hydrogen evolution, oxidized metallic Zn films yield ZnO nanorod-like photoanodes enriched with oxygen vacancies. These photoanodes show superior photoelectrochemical (PEC) performance under simulated sunlight due to improved light absorption, increased specific surface area, and enhanced charge-transfer properties. Finally, in optoelectronics, fluorine doping of β-Ga₂O₃ nanowires enhances luminescence and carrier lifetime, suppresses defect-related emissions, and demonstrates promising potential for improved deep-UV optoelectronic devices. Overall, these studies affirm the efficacy of metal oxide nanomaterials in advancing sustainable energy and environmental technologies.	en_US.UTF-8
dc.format	Thesis (PhD)
dc.language.iso	en_US	en_US.UTF-8
dc.relation	https://opus.lib.uts.edu.au/bitstream/10453/190599/1/thesis.pdf
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.rights	The author owns the copyright in this thesis including all reproduction and reuse rights for the work. The work may not be altered without the permission of the copyright owner. Attribution is essential when quoting or paraphrasing from this thesis.
dc.rights	© 2025 Amar Salih
dc.rights	au.edu.uts.lib/cph
dc.title	Metal Oxide Nanostructures For Photoelectrochemical, Photocatalytic And Optoelectronic Applications	en_US.UTF-8
dc.type	Thesis
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*

Abstract:

The demand for sustainable technological solutions to environmental and energy challenges is driving extensive research into innovative nanomaterials. This work explores the synthesis, modification, and application of metal oxide nanostructures in sustainable technologies, including microalgae biomass harvesting for green fuel production, hydrogen evolution, and the enhancement of electronic properties in environmental optoelectronic devices. For microalgae biomass harvesting, ZnO coatings deposited via magnetron sputtering onto stainless steel (SST) and alumina (ALO) membranes significantly enhance membrane performance. ZnO-coated SST membranes exhibit a two-fold increase in water flux and recover 60% of permeability upon UV irradiation after fouling. ZnO-coated ALO membranes display improved hydrophilicity, reducing flux decline and enabling full flux recovery upon solar light exposure. Regarding hydrogen evolution, oxidized metallic Zn films yield ZnO nanorod-like photoanodes enriched with oxygen vacancies. These photoanodes show superior photoelectrochemical (PEC) performance under simulated sunlight due to improved light absorption, increased specific surface area, and enhanced charge-transfer properties. Finally, in optoelectronics, fluorine doping of β-Ga₂O₃ nanowires enhances luminescence and carrier lifetime, suppresses defect-related emissions, and demonstrates promising potential for improved deep-UV optoelectronic devices. Overall, these studies affirm the efficacy of metal oxide nanomaterials in advancing sustainable energy and environmental technologies.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/190599