Enhanced Visible Light Photocatalytic Activity of ZnO Nanowires Doped with Mn2+ and Co2+ Ions

• Published in: Nanomaterials (Basel, Switzerland) Vol. 7; no. 1; p. 20
• Main Authors: Li, Wei, Wang, Guojing, Chen, Chienhua, Liao, Jiecui, Li, Zhengcao
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 01.01.2017; MDPI
• Subjects: Catalytic activity; Chemistry; Crystal lattices; Electrons; Energy consumption; Environmental cleanup; Environmental impact; Light; Materials science; Mathematical morphology; Mn2+ and Co2+ doping; Morphology; Nanomaterials; Nanoparticles; Nanowires; Nitrates; Photocatalysis; Photocatalysts; photocatalytic activity; Pollutants; Zinc oxide; Zinc oxides; ZnO; Beijing China; China
• ISSN: 2079-4991; 2079-4991
• DOI: 10.3390/nano7010020

In this research, ZnO nanowires doped with Mn2+ and Co2+ ions were synthesized through a facile and inexpensive hydrothermal approach, in which Mn2+ and Co2+ ions successfully substituted Zn2+ in the ZnO crystal lattice without changing the morphology and crystalline structure of ZnO. The atomic percentages of Mn and Co were 6.29% and 1.68%, respectively, in the doped ZnO nanowires. The photocatalytic results showed that Mn-doped and Co-doped ZnO nanowires both exhibited higher photocatalytic activities than undoped ZnO nanowires. Among the doped ZnO nanowires, Co-doped ZnO, which owns a twice active visible-light photocatalytic performance compared to pure ZnO, is considered a more efficient photocatalyst material. The enhancement of its photocatalytic performance originates from the doped metal ions, which enhance the light absorption ability and inhibit the recombination of photo-generated electron-hole pairs as well. The effect of the doped ion types on the morphology, crystal lattice and other properties of ZnO was also investigated.