ZnO/Au Hierarchical Mircosphere Composites with Efficient Photocatalytic Performance

Three-dimensional hierarchical semiconductor architectures with controlled morphology and dimensionality have potential applications in photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants. An effective way to promote photocatalytic activity is to deposit noble metal nanoparticles on the surface of semiconductors. Here, Au nanoparticles and hierarchical ZnO (ZnO/Au) microsphere composites were prepared via a facile chemical deposition method and their photocatalytic performance for degrading methyl orange dye was investigated. The results indicate that the as-prepared ZnO/Au hierarchical microsphere composite containing 5 wt% Au shows optimum photocatalytic activity. The improved photocatalytic performance was attributed to the increased light absorption and the suppression of charge carrier recombination resulting from the interaction between ZnO and Au.