Alkali-dependent synthesis of flower-like ZnO structures with enhanced photocatalytic activity via a facile hydrothermal method

• Published in: Applied surface science Vol. 258; no. 14; pp. 5455 - 5461
• Main Authors: Sun, Lin, Shao, Rong, Chen, Zhidong, Tang, Lanqin, Dai, Yong, Ding, Jianfei
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.05.2012; Elsevier
• Subjects: Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Crystal growth; Exact sciences and technology; Hydrothermal method; Photocatalysis; Physics; ZnO; Crystal growth; ZnO; Hydrothermal method; Photocatalysis; Inorganic compounds; Transition element compounds; Zinc oxide
• ISSN: 0169-4332; 1873-5584
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apsusc.2012.02.034

► Flower-like ZnO structures are prepared by a facile hydrothermal method. ► Alkaline environments are responsible for the morphological transition. ► Flower-shaped ZnO samples exhibit the highest photocatalytic activity. ► The growth mechanism and photodegradation process are proposed. Flower-like ZnO structures with high photocatalytic performance were successfully synthesized via a facile hydrothermal method. Alkaline environment played a critical role during the morphological transformation. When the molar ratio of Zn(CH3COO)2·2H2O to NaOH was set as 1:8 in the presence of triethanolamine (TEA), and the molar ratio of Zn2+ to TEA was 1:9, the flower-like ZnO product was produced. The hexagonal sphere-like, oblate-like, and hexagonal biprism-like samples were also obtained by adjusting the molar ratio of Zn2+ to NaOH as 1:2, 1:5 and 1:12 with the presence of invariable amount of TEA, respectively. The prepared ZnO products were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area. Photodegradation experiments of the samples were carried out by choosing Methylene Blue (MB) as a model target under UV irradiation with homemade photocatalytic apparatus. Among these products, flower-shaped samples exhibited the highest photocatalytic activity.