Effects of sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate on the crystal structures and photocatalytic performance of ZnO powders prepared by hydrothermal method

A facile and efficient route for the controllable synthesis of ZnO nanostructures by hydrothermal method using sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (SDBS) as surfactant was reported. The obtained products were well characterized with the aid of various techniques to probe their crystallographic, morphological, chemical, electrochemical and optical properties. The prepared products were used as photocatalysts in the application of the degradation of metronidazole (MNZ)-contained wastewater under visible light irradiation. A 4.5-fold augmentation of degradation efficiency was in turn observed for optimal ZnO (ZO-0.75) photocatalyst compared with that of sample without SDBS addition (ZO) under the visible light irradiation. The effects of SDBS dosage on the crystal structures of prepared samples as well as the crystal growth mechanism were also probed. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.