Hierarchically Nanostructured ZnO with Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity. (8th July 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pinheiro, Dephan; Jose, Ajay; Rajiv Bharadwaj, N; Jadan Resnik Jaleel, U C; Devi K. R., Sunaja
• Is Part Of: ECS journal of solid state science and technology. Volume 10:Number 7(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-07-08
• Subjects: Chemical properties of electronic materials -- Energy Conversion -- Semiconductors; Solid state chemistry -- Periodicals; Electronics -- Materials -- Periodicals; Electrochemistry -- Periodicals; 541.0421
• DOI: 10.1149/2162-8777/ac0f13
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2162-8777

Abstract

Abstract : Hierarchical nanostructures of ZnO are integrated architectures comprising well-ordered nanoscale subunits and excellent photocatalytic properties. In this study, synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles using methods such as co-precipitation, hydrothermal, thermal decomposition, and electrochemical precipitation yielded microsphere, nanorod, pyramid, and nanopetal-like morphologies, respectively. The catalysts obtained were characterized using XRD, IR, SEM-EDX, UVDRS, TGA, PL, and Zeta potential analysis. The XRD spectra confirmed that all the different morphologies of ZnO have hexagonal wurtzite structures The photocatalytic activity of these nanostructures was determined using a dye degradation study on a model pollutant Methylene Blue (MB) under simulated visible light. The kinetic study of the dye degradation reveals that it obeys pseudo-first-order kinetics with a maximum rate constant of 0.01503 min −1 . The nanorod structured ZnO particles prepared by the hydrothermal method showed the best catalytic activity.