Preparation and photocatalytic property of hexagonal cylinder-like bipods ZnO microcrystal photocatalyst

• Published in: Dyes and pigments 2012-12, Vol.95 (3), p.443-449
• Main Authors: Liu, Yumin, Lv, Hua, Li, Shuangqing, Xing, Xinyan, Xi, Guoxi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Carbon; Cationic; Cylinders; Decoloring; Degradation; Degradation mechanism; Dyes; Hydrothermal microemulsion method; Intermediate compounds; Morphology; Photocatalysis; Photocatalytic; Reactive Brilliant Red K-2BP; Ultraviolet; Zinc oxide; ZnO
• ISSN: 0143-7208; 1873-3743
• DOI: 10.1016/j.dyepig.2012.05.027

Single crystalline ZnO with hexagonal cylinder-like bipods morphologies were successfully synthesized via a cationic surfactant-assisted hydrothermal microemulsion route. The structure, morphologies and properties of the as-prepared samples were determined using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, photoluminescence spectrum and Ultraviolet and Visible absorption spectroscopy. The photocatalytic activities of the obtained products were evaluated by the degradation of Reactive Brilliant Red K-2BP in aqueous solution under a variety of conditions. Under the optimum condition, approximately 99.5% decolorization efficiency within 45 min and 65.3% TOC removal efficiency within 3 h were achieved, which were higher than that by the commercial ZnO. Moreover, the degradation products were analyzed by a gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry system and the probable pathways for the formation of the intermediates were proposed. The photocatalytic results indicated that the as-prepared ZnO showed good photocatalytic activity and it could be considered as a promising photocatalyst for dyes wastewater treatment. ► Hexagonal cylinder-like bipods ZnO were prepared by hydrothermal microemulsion. ► Hexagonal cylinder-like bipods ZnO exhibit good photocatalytic activity. ►·The possible degradation pathway of Y K-2BP has been proposed.