ZnO/Mg–Al layered double hydroxides as strongly adsorptive photocatalysts

Nanocomposites of magnesium aluminium layered double hydroxides with carbonate anions (Mg–Al–CO3-LDHs) and ZnO nanorods were prepared by a homogeneous precipitation process. The ZnO nanorods give the calcined Mg–Al–CO3-LDHs, strong adsorbents of anionic dyes, photocatalytic activity. The nanocomposites were characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The photocatalytic activity of the nanocomposites was investigated by degradation of acid red G in aqueous solution, and the nanocomposite with the ZnO-to-Mg–Al–CO3-LDHs mass ratio of 1:1 had the highest photocatalytic activity in this photocatalytic reaction.