title: Synthesis of multi-shelled ZnO hollow microspheres and their improved photocatalytic activity.
abstract: Herein, we report an effective, facile, and low-cost route for preparing ZnO hollow microspheres with a controlled number of shells composed of small ZnO nanoparticles. The formation mechanism of multiple-shelled structures was investigated in detail. The number of shells is manipulated by using different diameters of carbonaceous microspheres. The products were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The as-prepared ZnO hollow microspheres and ZnO nanoparticles were then used to study the degradation of methyl orange (MO) dye under ultraviolet (UV) light irradiation, and the triple-shelled ZnO hollow microspheres exhibit the best photocatalytic activity. This work is helpful to develop ZnO-based photocatalysts with high photocatalytic performance in addressing environmental protection issues, and it is also anticipated to other multiple-shelled metal oxide hollow microsphere structures.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory for Magnetism and Magnetic Materials of Ministry of Education, Lanzhou University, 730000 Lanzhou, People's Republic of China ; School of Physical Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xiangyun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory for Magnetism and Magnetic Materials of Ministry of Education, Lanzhou University, 730000 Lanzhou, People's Republic of China ; School of Physical Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jiao
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory for Magnetism and Magnetic Materials of Ministry of Education, Lanzhou University, 730000 Lanzhou, People's Republic of China ; School of Physical Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Liuxue
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory for Magnetism and Magnetic Materials of Ministry of Education, Lanzhou University, 730000 Lanzhou, People's Republic of China ; School of Physical Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Linjie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory for Magnetism and Magnetic Materials of Ministry of Education, Lanzhou University, 730000 Lanzhou, People's Republic of China ; School of Physical Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Meizhen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gao
keywords: Carbonaceous microspheres; Hollow microspheres; Photocatalytic; ZnO