Preparation and enhanced photocatalytic performance of one‐dimensional ZnO nanorods

Abstract

One dimensional (1D) ZnO nanorods were successfully synthesized via a facile solution route by refluxing their acetate precursors in diethylene glycol medium at 160°C. The as‐prepared ZnO nanorods were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy, X‐ray diffraction, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Experimental results demonstrated that the resultant products showed a 1D rod‐like hexagonal wurtzite crystal structure with diameters of about 5 nm and lengths of up to 100–200 nm. A possible growth mechanism of ZnO nanorods was tentatively proposed. Photocatalytic measurements demonstrated that the as‐prepared ZnO nanorods showed higher photocatalytic activities than the commercial photocatalyst TiO 2 P25 nanoparticles. In addition, the effect of solution pH values and initial solution concentrations on the photocatalytic activities of as‐prepared ZnO nanorods was also evaluated. © 2014 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 34: 74–80, 2015