Structure and photocatalytic activity of Ni-doped ZnO nanorods

• Published in: Materials research bulletin 2011-08, Vol.46 (8), p.1207-1210
• Main Authors: Zhao, Jing, Wang, Li, Yan, Xiaoqin, Yang, Ya, Lei, Yang, Zhou, Jing, Huang, Yunhua, Gu, Yousong, Zhang, Yue
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: A. Nanostructures; ABSORPTION SPECTRA; C. Raman spectroscopy; D. Catalytic properties; D. Optical properties; DOPED MATERIALS; EFFICIENCY; IRRADIATION; MATERIALS SCIENCE; NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY; NANOSTRUCTURES; OPTICAL PROPERTIES; PHOTOCATALYSIS; RAMAN SPECTRA; RAMAN SPECTROSCOPY; ZINC OXIDES
• ISSN: 0025-5408; 1873-4227
• DOI: 10.1016/j.materresbull.2011.04.008

Degradation rates of rhodamine B by Zn 1− x Ni x O photocatalyst. [Display omitted] ► The Ni-doped ZnO nanorods show a new band at ∼130 cm −1 in Raman spectra at room temperature. We conclude this mode is caused by an ordered arrangement of Ni dopants in the ZnO lattice. ► When the Ni-doping concentration raises, the band gap first increases and then decreases. ► The ZnO nanorods with different Ni-doping concentraton all exhibited higher photocatalytic activity than un-doped ZnO. The order of photocatalytic activities is Zn 0.95Ni 0.05O > Zn 0.9Ni 0.1O > Zn 0.98Ni 0.02O > ZnO. The one-dimensional (1D) Zn 1− x Ni x O ( x = 0, 0.02, 0.05, 0.10) nanorods have been synthesized by a simple hydrothermal method. New bands show at ∼130 cm −1 in the Raman spectra of Ni-doped ZnO nanorods and their relative intensity depends on the doping concentration of nickel. The optical band gap of the ZnO nanorods have been tuned by Ni-doping, which is revealed by absorption spectra. The photocatalytic activity of Zn 1− x Ni x O was studied by comparing the degradation rate of rhodamine B (RB) under UV-light irradiation. It was found that Zn 0.95Ni 0.05O exhibited the highest photocatalytic degradation efficiency among the samples.