title: Physico-chemical characterization and photocatalytic activity of zinc oxide prepared by various methods.
abstract: Zinc oxide was prepared by different methods by varying precipitating agents, the source of the salt precursors and the microwave irradiation time and was characterized by XRD, BET-surface area, surface acidity and crystallite sizes. The photocatalytic reactions were carried out under solar radiation in batch reactors towards oxidation of 4-nitrophenol and reduction of Cr(VI) by varying different parameters such as irradiation time, pH of the solution, catalyst amount and substrate concentration and the activities were correlated with the physico-chemical parameters. Zinc oxide samples prepared by microwave irradiation and calcined at 300 degrees C exhibit highest surface area, acid sites and lowest crystallite sizes and show highest activity towards photocatalytic reactions.
authors.affiliation: BP & EM Department, Regional Research Laboratory (CSIR), Bhubaneswar 751013, Orissa, India. kmparida@yahoo.com
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Parida
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Dash
authors.forename: D P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Das