Controllable Synthesis of ZnO Nanoparticles with Improved Photocatalytic Performance for the Degradation of Rhodamine B under Ultraviolet Light Irradiation

Abstract

In this work, two-dimensional (2D) Zn-HMT (Zn(NO3)2(HMT)2(H2O)2]n) nanosheets were synthesized using a facile one-step chemical precipitation in the presence of Zn(NO3)2, hexamine (HMT), and anhydrous ethanol at room temperature. Subsequently, hexagonal Tx-ZnO (Tx-ZnO refers to the zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles) were synthesized by a high-temperature solid-phase method at different temperatures (x = 500, 550, 600, 650, 700, 750, and 800 °C) nanoparticles with different morphologies were synthesized by a high-temperature calcination approach using 2D Zn-HMT nanosheets as precursor. The crystal structure, morphology, specific surface areas, surface and interface properties, optical properties, and charge migration behaviors of the as-synthesized Tx-ZnO nanoparticles were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution TEM (HRTEM), automatic specific surface and aperture analyzer, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), UV-visible spectrophotometer, photoluminescence (PL) spectra, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The photocatalytic performances and stabilities of the as-synthesized typical Tx-ZnO nanoparticles with various morphologies were evaluated and compared with the commercial ZnO (CM-ZnO) nanoparticle. The T700-ZnO nanoparticle with spherical and irregular morphology exhibited the highest photocatalytic activity (99.12%) for the degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB), compared to T500-ZnO (92.32%), T600-ZnO (90.65%), T800-ZnO (44.04%), and the CM-ZnO (88.38%) nanoparticle, which can be attributed to the cooperative effects of higher crystallinity, bigger crystal size, the strongest separation efficiency, the lowest recombination rate, the fastest charge carrier transfer path, and the highest charge-transfer efficiency. The superior photocatalytic activity illustrated by the T700-ZnO nanoparticle makes it have potential application prospects for the treatment of organic wastewater.

Rapidly chemical preparation of Mn doped ZnO nanostructures for photocatalysis efficiency based on UV light system and mechanism insights

“…S. M. Roopan and et al presented the new green synthesis method of ZnO for larvicidal activity [25]. X. Ren and et al investigated the best way to controllable preparation of ZnO nanoparticles for decomposition of basic dye [26]. V. Dhiman and et al synthesized the Bryophyllum pinnatum leaf extract mediated ZnO nanoparticles for photo-degradation of antibiotics and dyes under solar irradiation [27].…”

Construction of novel potentiometric sensors modified with biogenically synthesized metal oxide nanoparticles for sensitive detection of the opioid agonist-antagonist nalbuphine hydrochloride in its injection

“…In recent years, nanobiotechnology has become a fundamental branch of current science and a new era in the field of materials science, attracting worldwide interest due to its numerous applications [ 1 ]. The conventional techniques for producing nanoparticles include thermal decomposition [ 2 ], microwave synthesis [ 3 ], electrochemical synthesis [ 4 ], ultraviolet irradiation [ 5 ], laser ablation [ 6 ], laser irradiation [ 7 ], and chemical reduction method [ 8 ]. The fabrication of progressive and clean nanomaterials using several conventional probs, on the other hand, has numerous limitations, such as the use of harmful organic reagents and solvents, the need to elevate the pressure and temperature, and the release of toxic and detrimental byproducts, all of which cause environmental issues [ [9] , [10] , [11] ].…”