A Synergy of ZnO and ZnWO4 in Composite Nanostructures Deduced from Optical Properties and Photocatalysis

ZnO/ZnWO4 composite rod-like nanoparticles were synthesized by low-temperature soft solution method at 95 A degrees C with different reaction times (1-120 h), in the presence of non-ionic copolymer surfactant Pluronic F68. Obtained nanoparticles had diameters in the range around 10 nm and length of 30 nm. Optical properties such as reflection and room temperature photoluminescence of obtained samples showed strong dependence on their crystallinity and composition. Photocatalytic activity of ZnO/ZnWO4 nanopowders was checked using photodegradation of selected dyes as model system. Obtained results were correlated with specific surface area, particle sizes, crystallinity and ZnO/ZnWO4 ratio of the samples. As crystallinity of ZnWO4 component in the ZnO/ZnWO4 increase, photocatalytic activity also increases. The main findings can be explained by charge transfer reactions that follow light absorption by ZnO and ZnWO4 in nanocomposite.