title: Structural, optical and photocatalytic properties of flower-like ZnO nanostructures prepared by a facile wet chemical method.
abstract: Flower-like ZnO nanostructures were synthesized by a facile wet chemical method. Structural, optical and photocatalytic properties of these nanostructures have been studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), photoluminescence (PL) and UV-vis absorption spectroscopy. SEM and TEM studies revealed flower-like structures consisting of nanosheets, formed due to oriented attachment of ZnO nanoparticles. Flower-like ZnO structures showed enhanced photocatalytic activity towards sun-light driven photodegradation of methylene blue dye (MB) as compared to ZnO nanoparticles. XRD, UV-vis absorption, PL, FTIR and TEM studies revealed the formation of Zn(OH)2 surface layer on ZnO nanostructures upon ageing. We demonstrate that the formation of a passivating Zn(OH)2 surface layer on the ZnO nanostructures upon ageing deteriorates their efficiency to photocatalytically degrade of MB.
authors.affiliation: School of Basic and Applied Sciences, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Dwarka, New Delhi 110078, India.
authors.forename: Sini
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kuriakose
authors.affiliation: School of Basic and Applied Sciences, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Dwarka, New Delhi 110078, India.
authors.forename: Neha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bhardwaj
authors.affiliation: School of Basic and Applied Sciences, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Dwarka, New Delhi 110078, India.
authors.forename: Jaspal
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, 1/AF Bidhannagar, Kolkata 700064, India.
authors.forename: Biswarup
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Satpati
authors.affiliation: School of Basic and Applied Sciences, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Dwarka, New Delhi 110078, India.
authors.forename: Satyabrata
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mohapatra
keywords: ZnO; ageing; nanoparticles; nanosheets; photocatalysis