Preparation and Enhanced Photocatalytic Performance of One-dimensional ZnO Nanorods

One dimensional (1D) ZnO nanorods were successfully synthesized via a facile solution route by refluxing their acetate precursors in diethylene glycol medium at 160 degrees C. The as-prepared ZnO nanorods were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Experimental results demonstrated that the resultant products showed a 1D rod-like hexagonal wurtzite crystal structure with diameters of about 5 nm and lengths of up to 100-200 nm. A possible growth mechanism of ZnO nanorods was tentatively proposed. Photocatalytic measurements demonstrated that the as-prepared ZnO nanorods showed higher photocatalytic activities than the commercial photocatalyst TiO2 P25 nanoparticles. In addition, the effect of solution pH values and initial solution concentrations on the photocatalytic activities of as-prepared ZnO nanorods was also evaluated. (c) 2014 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 34: 74-80, 2015