Enhanced Visible Light Photocatalytic Activity of ZnO Nanowires Doped with Mn2+and Co2+Ions.
In this research, ZnO nanowires doped with Mn2+and Co2+ions were synthesized through a facile and inexpensive hydrothermal approach, in which Mn2+and Co2+ions successfully substituted Zn2+in the ZnO crystal lattice without changing the morphology and crystalline structure of ZnO. The atomic percentages of Mn and Co were 6.29% and 1.68%, respectively, in the doped ZnO nanowires. The photocatalytic results showed that Mn-doped and Co-doped ZnO nanowires both exhibited higher photocatalytic activities than undoped ZnO nanowires. Among the doped ZnO nanowires, Co-doped ZnO, which owns a twice active visible-light photocatalytic performance compared to pure ZnO, is considered a more efficient photocatalyst material. The enhancement of its photocatalytic performance originates from the doped metal ions, which enhance the light absorption ability and inhibit the recombination of photo-generated electron-hole pairs as well. The effect of the doped ion types on the morphology, crystal lattice and other properties of ZnO was also investigated.
State Key Lab of New Ceramic and Fine Processing, School of Materials Science & Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China. liwei941029@foxmail.com.
Wei
W
Li
State Key Lab of New Ceramic and Fine Processing, School of Materials Science & Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China. gj14@mails.tsinghua.edu.cn.
Guojing
G
Wang
State Key Lab of New Ceramic and Fine Processing, School of Materials Science & Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China. caramel6517@gmail.com.
Chienhua
C
Chen
State Key Lab of New Ceramic and Fine Processing, School of Materials Science & Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China. liaojc14@mails.tsinghua.edu.cn.
Jiecui
J
Liao
Key Lab of Advanced Materials Laboratory (MOE), School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China. zcli@tsinghua.edu.cn.
Zhengcao
Z
Li
Mn2+ and Co2+ doping; ZnO; photocatalytic activity