Hydrothermal synthesis and photocatalytic activity of highly dispersed ZnO powders

The micromorphology of highly dispersed ZnO powders formed from Zn(OH)₂ gels under hydrothermal conditions is studied by powder X-ray diffraction, X-ray diffraction analysis, and low-temperature nitrogen adsorption. The parameters of hydrothermal synthesis (heating rate, treatment duration, and temperature) are found to effect the microstructural characteristics of the products. The photocatalytic activity of the synthesized zinc oxide samples in the model reaction of Methyl Orange photodegradation is studied. The synthesis parameters for preparing ZnO powders with high photocatalytic activity are determined.     

Preparation and photocatalytic properties of silica-supported fine CdS powders

Summary Silica-supported cadmium sulfide, highly active in hydrogen photogeneration from water-methanol-KOH solution, was prepared by sulfidation of Cd²⁺-impregnated SiO₂. The samples consisted of colloidal-size hexagonal crystallites of CdS on amorphous SiO₂. A blue shift of a light absorption edge was observed for the samples with lower CdS content.

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Herstellung und photokatalytische Aktivität von feinen CdS-Pulvern auf SiO₂

Zusammenfassung Es wurde Cadmiumsulfid auf Kieselgel durch Sulfidierung von Cd²⁺-imprägniertem SiO₂ hergestellt, das eine außerordentliche Aktivität bei der Wasserstoff-Photogenerierung aus Wasser-Methanol-KOH-Lösungen zeigte. Der Katalysator bestand aus hexagonalen CdS-Kristalliten von kolloidalen Ausmaßen auf amorphem SiO₂. An Proben mit geringerem CdS-Gehalt wurde eine Blauverschiebung der Lichtabsorption an der Absorptionskante beobachtet.

     

Electrical,optical and photocatalytic properties of Ti-loaded ZnO/ZnO and Ti-loaded ZnO nanospheres

Ti-loaded ZnO and Ti-loaded ZnO/ZnO nanoparticles have been synthesized by sol–gel method and analyzed for photocatalyst application. The phase confirmation was analyzed by powder XRD and surface morphology with HR-SEM and EDAX spectrum. The particle size measured using HR-TEM and SAED pattern confirms the crystalline nature of Ti-loaded ZnO and Ti-loaded ZnO/ZnO nanoparticles. The optical properties were studied with UV–visible diffuse reflectance spectra. The DRS of Ti-loaded ZnO/ZnO nanoparticles are similar to those of pristine ZnO nanoparticles. The KM plots show both the synthesized Ti-loaded ZnO/ZnO and Ti-loaded ZnO exhibit in UV-A region. The electric properties are studied with impedance analyzer, and the results show the charge-transfer resistance of Ti-loaded ZnO/ZnO is larger than that of Ti-loaded ZnO nanoparticles. The photocatalytic activity was studied with methylene blue dye and phenol degradation by Ti-loaded ZnO/ZnO, Ti-loaded ZnO, TiO₂ and ZnO nanoparticles. The photocatalytic activity of Ti-loaded ZnO/ZnO nanospheres is slightly higher than that of other nanoparticles, which shows that they have excellent application as photocatalyst.     

Optical and photocatalytic properties of quasi-one-dimensional ZnO activated by carbon

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Shape-controlled fabrication of porous ZnO architectures and their photocatalytic properties

In this paper, we report a simple two-step approach to prepare porous octahedron- and rod-shaped ZnO architectures. The morphology of porous ZnO particles can be conveniently tuned by controlling morphologies of the ZnC₂O₄·2H₂O precursor. SEM and TEM characterization results indicate that these porous ZnO architectures are built up by numerous ZnO primary nanoparticles with random attachment. Based on thermogravimetry analysis, we believe that the release of water vapor, CO and CO₂ leads to the formation of high-density pores in shape-controlled particles during the calcination process. Further experimental results indicate that as-prepared porous ZnO particles exhibit good photocatalytic activity due to large surface area.     

Self-assembly prismatic aggregates formed during the calcination of ZnO powders: in situ monitoring by ETA technique and their photocatalytic properties

This paper describes a unique phenomenon occurred during the calcination of ZnO powders, i.e., the ZnO particles self-assembled to form prismatic aggregates with a clear edges and faces. Field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were used to characterize the particle morphology and crystal structure of the calcined sample. The emanation thermal analysis (ETA) technique was used to monitor the changes of ZnO particle surface and subsurface microstructure irregularities and the occurrence of interparticle compaction phenomena under in situ conditions of heating and cooling. It was assumed from the ETA results that the driven force of the self-assembly of ZnO particles towards prismatic aggregates originated from the solid state diffusion and migration of grain boundaries. The photocatalytic tests indicated that the prismatic aggregates of ZnO calcined at 800 degrees C demonstrated a highest photocatalytic activity for acetaldehyde decomposition because of the enhancement of the surface-exposed high-active crystal face of (101 0).     

Effects of flower-like ZnO nanowhiskers on the mechanical, thermal and antibacterial properties of waterborne polyurethane

A novel waterborne polyurethane/flower-like ZnO nanowhiskers (WPU/f-ZnO) composite with different f-ZnO content (0-4.0 wt%) was synthesized by an in-situ copolymerization process. The f-ZnO consisting of uniform nanorods was prepared via a simple hydrothermal method. In order to disperse and incorporate f-ZnO into WPU matrix, f-ZnO was modified with γ-aminopropyltriethoxysilane. Morphology of f-ZnO in WPU matrix was characterized by scanning electron microscope. The properties of WPU/f-ZnO composites such as mechanical strength, thermal stability as well as water swelling were strongly influenced by the f-ZnO contents. It was demonstrated that appropriate amount of f-ZnO with good dispersion in the WPU matrix significantly improved the performance of the composites. The mechanical property was enhanced with an increase of f-ZnO content up to the optimum content (1 wt%) and then declined. Incorporation of f-ZnO enhanced the water resistance of the composites remarkably. It was amazing to observe that the thermal degradation temperatures of the composites initially decreased significantly and then leveled off with content increase of f-ZnO, which was different from the results of other WPU composite systems reported. Antibacterial activity of WPU/f-ZnO composite films against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus was also tested. The results revealed that the antibacterial activity enhanced with the increasing f-ZnO content, and the best antibacterial activity was obtained at the loading level of 4.0 wt% f-ZnO.     

Preparation,characterization and photocatalytic properties of BiOBr/ZnO composites

BiOBr/ZnO composite photocatalysts were prepared by a simple hydrothermal method. The as-prepared samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction(XRD), scanning electron microscopy(SEM), transmission electron microscopy(TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy(HRTEM), UV–Vis diffusion reflectance spectroscopy(DRS) and photoluminescence(PL) spectroscopy, respectively. The photocatalytic activities were evaluated by the degradation of methyl blue(MB) under the simulated sunlight irradiation. Among all the samples, the BiOBr/ZnO composite with a mole ratio of 3:1(Bi:Zn) exhibited the best photocatalytic activity. The improvement of photocatalytic activity was mainly attributed to the low recombination ratio of photo-induced electron-hole pairs. The possible photocatalytic mechanism was discussed on the basis of the band structures of BiOBr and ZnO.     

Organic and inorganic binder-coating properties for immobilization of photocatalytic ZnO nanopowders

Research on Chemical Intermediates - Five kinds of organic binders, three kinds of inorganic binders, and four kinds of organic–inorganic double-layer binders were prepared to immobilize...     

Effects of chemical modification on the structure and mechanical properties of starch-based biofilms

Abstract  

In this work, chemically modified corn starch and plasticized corn starch biofilms were obtained and characterized in four steps: (1) preparation of corn starch microparticles, (2) preparation of malic acid-modified corn starch microparticles (MA–SM), (3) preparation of corn starch biofilms and MA–SM-plasticized corn starch biofilms, and (4) characterization of the biofilms. The effects of MA–SM concentration (4, 8, and 12% based on the amount of corn starch) on the structural characteristics and mechanical properties of the biofilms were investigated. Changes in the starch granules after chemical modification were studied by X-ray diffraction, FT-IR spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. The presence of ester carbonyl group stretching vibration at 1,720 cm⁻¹ in FT-IR spectra was evidence of reaction of the starch microparticles with malic acid. The tensile yield strength and Young’s modulus of the films increased with increasing MA–SM content. Water uptake decreased from 69.8% for biofilm without MA–SM to 52.7% for biofilm with MA–SM. The improvement of these properties in the plasticized product could be attributed to the good interaction between the MA–SM filler and the corn starch.     

Room-temperature synthesis of pompon-like ZnO hierarchical structures and their enhanced photocatalytic properties

In this paper, an efficient and simple route combined with a subsequent calcining process to synthesize pompon-like ZnO microstructures at room temperature (25 °C) has been developed. The samples were intensively investigated by SEM, TEM, HRTEM, and XRD. The results indicate that the well-crystallized pompon-like ZnO is assembled by interlaced nanoplates with uniform thickness of about 50 nm. The photocatalytic trials confirm that the pompon-like ZnO exhibits excellent degradation efficiency under UV light. Moreover, the as-prepared ZnO samples show superior durability and stability after six photodegradation cycling runs. Finally, a mechanism was proposed to elucidate the photodegradation reaction of the pompon-like ZnO.     

Synthesis, characterization, and photocatalytic properties of surface-modified, silver-doped ZnO

Hydrothermal synthesis of silver-doped modified ZnO was carried out in the presence of a surface modifier. The experimental conditions were maintained constant (ZnO = 4 M; T = 250 °C; P = autogenous; Solvent = 1 N HCl; Duration = 24 h). Caprylic acid was used as a surface modifier with varying concentration from 0.1 to 2 mL. The experiments were carried out with Ag doping from 1 to 5 wt%. Hydrophobic silver-doped ZnO modified with caprylic acid was subjected to a systematic characterization using powder XRD, SEM, FTIR, and photocatalytic properties using Indigo Carmine dye.     

Luminescence and photocatalytic activity of ZnO nanocrystals: correlation between structure and property

Low-dimensional ZnO nanocrystals with controlled size, aspect ratio, and oxygen defects (e.g., type and concentration) are successfully prepared through simple solvothermal and thermal treatment methods. The structure of the as-synthesized samples is characterized by XRD, N2 physical adsorption, TEM, and IR and XPS spectra. The results show that the aspect ratio and size of the as-synthesized ZnO nanocrystals increase with increasing [OH-]/[Zn2+]; the morphology evolves from nanorod to nanoparticle with an increase in the annealing temperature; the BET surface areas of the corresponding samples decrease during these processes, respectively; and different oxygen defects, which are likely to be oxygen vacancy (Vo**) and interstitial oxygen (Oi'), are formed in our experiments accordingly. With evolution of the structure, IR absorption bands and visible photoluminescence emission peaks of the synthesized ZnO nanocrystals shift and split, which is ascribed to the change of oxygen defects. In addition, it is found that the photocatalytic activity of the synthesized ZnO nanocrystals is mainly dependent on the type and concentration of oxygen defects. The relationship of structure-property and the possible photocatalytic mechanism are discussed in detail.     

多孔雪花状氧化锌分级纳米结构的制备、表征及其光催化性能研究

在H2O和乙二醇(EG)构成的二元体系中,通过Zn AC2与NH4F和H2O的水热反应制备了六角雪花状Zn OHF。Zn OHF在空气中退火,制备出了由单晶Zn O纳米片构建的多孔六角雪花状Zn O。用X射线衍射(XRD),扫描电子显微镜(SEM),透射电子显微镜(TEM)及其热重等多种手段对产物进行结构表征,并提出了可能的化学反应。以甲基橙和酸性大红为例,研究了其光催化性能,结果表明,多孔雪花状Zn O是一种有效的光催化剂。     

Effect of mechanical activation on structural-chemical properties of phosphorites

Effect of mechanochemical activation of mono-and mid-fraction of phosphorites from the Burenkhan deposit was studied by IR and ESR spectroscopies in vibration and planetary mills. Original Russian Text ? B.G. Sukhov, D. Enkhtuyaa, Zh. Amgalan, T.I. Vakul’skaya, L.N. Novikova, Zh.G. Bazarova, B.G. Bazarov, 2007, published in Zhurnal Prikladnoi Khimii, 2007, Vol. 80, No. 6, pp. 881–886.     

Photocatalytic properties of ZnO powders synthesized by conventional and microwave-assisted solution combustion method

Zinc oxide (ZnO) powders have been prepared by solution combustion synthesis method using conventional and microwave ignition routes. The effects of starting solution acidity on the combustion behavior, phase evolution, microstructure, optical properties and photocatalytic performance were investigated by thermal analysis, X-ray diffractometry, electron microscopy and diffuse reflectance spectrometry techniques. The chelated species in dried gels were predicted by theoretical calculations and confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The combustion reaction rate increased with the increase of pH values. Single phase and well-crystalline ZnO powders were achieved by both of ignition methods regardless of pH values. The hexagonal particles (200–80?nm) formed by microwave ignition were larger than the spherical particles (60–40?nm) in conventional heating. Conventionally combusted ZnO powders exhibited higher photocatalytic activity under ultraviolet irradiation, due to their narrower band gap and smaller particle size.

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C/C0 vs. irradiation time for photodegradation of MB dye under ultraviolet light irradiation by the as-combusted ZnO powders (filled symbols present conventional combusted powders and open symbols are for the microwave combusted powders)

     

Band structure tuning of ZnO/CuO composites for enhanced photocatalytic activity

The toxic dye pigments, even in small quantities, can damage ecosystems. Removing organic, inorganic, and microbiological contaminants from wastewater via heterogeneous photocatalysis is a promising method. Herein, we report the band structure tuning of ZnO/CuO nanocomposites to enhance photocatalytic activity. The nanocomposites were synthesized by a chemical approach using step-wise implantation of p-type semiconductor CuO to n-type semiconductor ZnO. Various characterization techniques such as X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX) and UV spectroscopy were used to investigate the crystal structure, surface morphology, elemental composition and optical properties of the synthesized samples. As the CuO content increased from 10% to 50% in ZnO/CuO nanocomposites, the optical bandgap decreased from 3.36 to 2.14 eV. The photocatalytic activity of the samples was evaluated against the degradation of methylene blue (MB) under visible irradiation. Our study demonstrates a novel p–n junction oxide photocatalyst based on wt. 10% CuO/ZnO with superior photocatalytic activity. Effectively 66.6% increase in degradation rate was achieved for wt. 10% CuO/ZnO nanocomposite compared to pure ZnO nanoparticles.     

Effect of ZnO nanoparticles on the thermal and mechanical properties of epoxy-based nanocomposite

Effect of ZnO nanoparticles particles on the mechanical properties and the curing behavior of an epoxy nanocomposite were studied. Nanocomposites were prepared using different loadings of pre-dispersed ZnO nanoparticles having an average size of 40 nm. The surface topography and morphology of the nanocomposites were studied using atomic force microscope (AFM). The mechanical properties of nanocomposites were studied using analytical techniques including dynamic mechanical thermal analysis and micro-Vickers hardness. Effects of ZnO nanoparticles on the curing behavior of these nanocomposites were investigated utilizing isothermal and non-isothermal differential scanning calorimeter techniques. In addition, chemical compositions of coatings containing different ZnO nanoparticles contents were studied using a Fourier transform inferred. It was found that, ZnO nanoparticles can effectively influence the mechanical properties of epoxy coating. In addition, lower curing degrees, and therefore crosslinking density of epoxy coating including higher ZnO nanoparticles were obtained. This effect was completely different at low and high loadings of the particles.     

Li掺杂ZnO的电子结构与电性能的研究

采用密度泛函理论平面波超软赝势方法研究了p型Li掺杂的纤锌矿结构ZnO的能带结构、态密度和电荷分布,并分析了Li掺杂ZnO的电输运性能.结果表明,Li掺杂ZnO具有1.6eV的直接带隙,且为p型半导体,体系费米能级附近的态密度大大提高,在导带和价带中都出现了由Li电子能级形成的能带,其费米能级附近的能带主要由Li的s态、Zn的p态、Zn的d态和O的p态电子构成,且他们之间存在着强相互作用.电输运参数和电输运性能分析结果表明,Li掺杂的ZnO氧化物价带和导带中的载流子有效质量均较大;其载流子输运主要由Li的s态、Zn的p态和O的p态电子完成;Li掺杂有望改善ZnO的电输运性能.