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Facile synthesis of urchin-like ZnO nanostructures with enhanced optical properties

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Abstract

Novel urchin-like ZnO nanostructures were successfully synthesized via an electrodeposition-hydrothermal method and characterized using various analytical instruments. The as prepared samples were characterized by FESEM, XRD, UV–Vis, PL and photocatalytic test. And the effects of the electrodeposition time on the morphology, structure and optical properties have been investigated. In the FESEM, well defined shape of urchin-like ZnO nanostructures was generated. The band gaps of urchin-like ZnO nanostructures, determined from UV–Vis absorption spectra, are 3.13 eV. Photocatalytic investigation of ZnO nanostructures was carried out using methylene blue aqueous solution under UV–visible illumination. Urchin-like ZnO nanostructures prepared under 10 min showed enhanced photocatalytic performance in comparison with the others. The enhanced photocatalytic activity for urchin-like ZnO nanostructures might be resulting from the higher concentration of surface oxygen vacancies.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Materials Science and Chemistry, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430074, China

    Jieyu Chen, Da Li, Jun Yang, **angzhou Lv & Yongqian Wang

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  1. Jieyu Chen
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  2. Da Li
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Correspondence to Jieyu Chen or Yongqian Wang.

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Chen, J., Li, D., Yang, J. et al. Facile synthesis of urchin-like ZnO nanostructures with enhanced optical properties. J Mater Sci: Mater Electron 28, 1605–1611 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-016-5701-0

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