Hydrothermal controllable synthesis to convert ZnO hexagonal nanotubes to hexagonal nanorods and their photocatalytic application

• Published in: Journal of materials science. Materials in electronics 2016-11, Vol.27 (11), p.11176-11181
• Main Authors: Sabry, Raad S., Abid, M. A., Muhsen, Baida, Aziz, Wisam. J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry and Materials Science; Degradation; Diffraction; Glass; Materials Science; Nanorods; Nanotubes; Optical and Electronic Materials; Photocatalysis; Zinc; Zinc oxide
• ISSN: 0957-4522; 1573-482X
• DOI: 10.1007/s10854-016-5236-4

Zinc oxide (ZnO) thick films were analyzed by high-resolution X-ray diffraction (HR-XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy, and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy at room temperature. The films were grown on glass substrates using different molar concentrations of aqueous solution (0.02, 0.04, and 0.06 M) via a simple hydrothermal method. This method uses glass bottles with rubber caps as reactor vessels (100 mL) and, thus, is classified as a green chemistry technique. Hexahedral zinc nitrate (Zn (NO 3 ) 2 ·6H 2 O), hexamethylenetetramine (C 6 H 12 N 4 ), and deionized water were used as starting materials and were reacted in the presence of heat. HR-XRD measurements confirmed that the diffraction peaks of the polycrystalline structure films can be assigned to the hexagonal-shaped wurtzite ZnO. In addition, the PL spectra show that the integrated intensity decreases with the increase in ZnO content. The SEM images also revealed the existence of hexagonal ZnO nanotubes in the 0.02 M sample, and these nanotubes are gradually converted into hexagonal nanorods with the increase in ZnO content. Moreover, the photocatalytic activity of both nanostructures was measured based on the degradation of methyl blue (MB) by using ultraviolet light ( λ  = 366 nm). Results showed that the ZnO nanotubes degraded MB more effectively than the nanorods.