title: Biopolymer starch mediated synthetic route of multi-spheres and donut ZnO structures.
abstract: A starch-assisted synthetic methodology of multispheres ZnO-starch biocomposites was developed. An additional thermal processing of the ZnO-starch composites induces the formation of ZnO with donut-like morphology. The synthesis of single-phase zinc oxide with a spherical morphology is conditioned by the presence of starch, which acts as template, stabilizing/capping agent. The synthesized structures present significant photocatalytic activities; a total phenol mineralization is attained with the donut-like ZnO photocatalyst under visible light irradiation, due to a cumulative effect of the its relatively large specific surface area, high crystallinity and favorable combination of defects for band narrowing, which together permit an enhanced utilization rate of the light.
authors.affiliation: Ilie Murgulescu" Institute of Physical Chemistry, Romanian Academy, Splaiul Independentei 202, 060021 Bucharest, Romania. Electronic address: ocarp@icf.ro.
authors.forename: Oana
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Carp
authors.affiliation: University of Bucharest, Physical Chemistry Department, Bd. Elisabeta 4-12, 030018, Romania.
authors.forename: Alina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tirsoaga
authors.affiliation: University of Bucharest, Physical Chemistry Department, Bd. Elisabeta 4-12, 030018, Romania.
authors.forename: Bogdan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jurca
authors.affiliation: Ilie Murgulescu" Institute of Physical Chemistry, Romanian Academy, Splaiul Independentei 202, 060021 Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: Ramona
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ene
authors.affiliation: Ilie Murgulescu" Institute of Physical Chemistry, Romanian Academy, Splaiul Independentei 202, 060021 Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Somacescu
authors.affiliation: Politechnica" University of Bucharest, Gh. Polizu Street no.1-7, 011061 Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: Adelina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ianculescu
mesh_terms: D002384:Catalysis; D060326:Chemistry Techniques, Synthetic; D055668:Photochemical Processes; D013213:Starch / Q000737:chemistry*; D015034:Zinc Oxide / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D013213:Starch; D015034:Zinc Oxide
keywords: Multi-spheres and donut structure; Optical properties, Visible-photocatalyst; Starch; ZnO