Biomineralization-Inspired Preparation of Zinc Hydroxide Carbonate/Polymer Hybrids and Their Conversion into Zinc Oxide Thin-Film Photocatalysts.

The development of ZnO thin films has been achieved through the conversion of zinc hydroxide carbonate thin-film crystals. Crystallization of this compound is induced by a biomineralization-inspired method with polymer-stabilized amorphous precursors. The crystals grow radially on polymer matrices, leading to the formation of zinc hydroxide carbonate/polymer thin-film hybrids that fully cover the substrate. These hybrids are converted into ZnO and retain their thin-film morphologies. The resultant ZnO thin films exhibit a preferential crystallographic orientation that is attributed to the alignment of zinc hydroxide carbonate crystals before conversion. In addition, a photocatalytic function of the ZnO thin films has been demonstrated by analyzing the oxidation reaction of 2-propanol. The biomineralization-inspired approach reported herein is a promising way to develop ZnO materials with controlled morphologies and structures for photocatalytic applications.