A Review on the Fabrication of Hierarchical ZnO Nanostructures for Photocatalysis Application

Abstract

Semiconductor photocatalysis provides potential solutions for many energy and environmental-related issues. Recently, various semiconductors with hierarchical nanostructures have been fabricated to achieve efficient photocatalysts owing to their multiple advantages, such as high surface area, porous structures, as well as enhanced light harvesting. ZnO has been widely investigated and considered as the most promising alternative photocatalyst to TiO 2 . Herein, we present a review on the fabrication methods, growth mechanisms and photocatalytic applications of hierarchical ZnO nanostructures. Various synthetic strategies and growth mechanisms, including multistep sequential growth routes, template-based synthesis, template-free self-organization and precursor or self-templating strategies, are highlighted. In addition, the fabrication of multicomponent ZnO-based nanocomposites with hierarchical structures is also included. Finally, the application of hierarchical ZnO nanostructures and nanocomposites in typical photocatalytic reactions, such as pollutant degradation and H 2 evolution, is reviewed.

Hybrid BiOBr/UiO-66-NH2 composite with enhanced visible-light driven photocatalytic activity toward RhB dye degradation

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Zinc Oxide Nanostructures: From Chestnut Husk-Like Structures to Hollow Nanocages, Synthesis and Structure

“…The importance of hierarchical ZnO nanostructures is of the relevance being the assembling of long ZnO nanowiskers been evidenced by some recent papers [41,42]. It has been also reported that the co-presence of hierarchical ZnO nanostructures and noble metal nanoparticles can be advantageous for many applications (i.e., catalytic/photocatalytic, electric charge capacity, and sensing property) [22,23], due to the strong surface plasmon resonance and to the charge separation efficiency given by the noble metal nanoparticles.…”

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