Concomitant synthesis of highly crystalline Zn-Al layered double hydroxide and ZnO: phase interconversion and enhanced photocatalytic activity.
Metal oxide/hydroxide with hierarchical nanostructures has emerged as one of the most promising materials for their unique, attractive properties and feasibility of applications in various fields. In this report, a concomitant synthesis of crystalline zinc aluminum layered double hydroxide (ZnAl-LDH) nanostructure and ZnO is presented using Al substrate as template. Studies on interconversion of ZnO to LDH phase in bulk solution under hydrothermal conditions produced Al-doped ZnO (AZO) in one case, and in other, it improves the crystallinity of LDH film templated on Al substrate. In presence of Al salt, the self-limiting growth nature of plate LDH turned to non-self-limiting. Materials obtained during phase transition, AZO in bulk solution and crystalline porous ZnAl-LDH on substrate, have been demonstrated as effective photocatalysts for decomposition of congo red in aqueous medium.
Unilever R&D Bangalore, 64 Main Road, Whitefield, Bangalore 560 066, India. Electronic address: kingshuk.dutta@unilever.com.
Kingshuk
K
Dutta
Unilever R&D Bangalore, 64 Main Road, Whitefield, Bangalore 560 066, India.
Somnath
S
Das
Unilever R&D Bangalore, 64 Main Road, Whitefield, Bangalore 560 066, India.
Amitava
A
Pramanik
D000535:Aluminum / Q000737:chemistry*; D002384:Catalysis; D003460:Crystallization; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D006878:Hydroxides / Q000737:chemistry*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D010777:Photochemistry; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction; D015032:Zinc / Q000737:chemistry*; D015034:Zinc Oxide / Q000737:chemistry*
D006878:Hydroxides; D000535:Aluminum; D015032:Zinc; D015034:Zinc Oxide