ZnO nanorods surface-decorated by WO3 nanoparticles for photocatalytic degradation of endocrine disruptors under a compact fluorescent lamp

Nanoscaled tungsten oxide (WO3) particles coated on ZnO nanorods (ZNRs) were newly synthesized by combining a hydrothermal technique with a chemical solution process. The structure, morphologies and compositions of the as-prepared WO3–ZNR nanocomposites were characterized through XRD, FESEM, TEM and Raman measurements. The results revealed that pure monoclinic WO3 nanoparticles with an average size range of 18–26 nm were distributed on the surfaces of ZNRs and attached strongly. Particularly, the optical properties as well as photocatalytic characteristics of pure ZNRs and WO3–ZNR nanocomposites with different loadings of WO3 were also examined. The absorption of WO3–ZNR nanocomposites was redshifted due to effective immobilization of WO3 on ZNRs. Under irradiation of a 55 W compact fluorescence lamp, the photocatalytic activities of the WO3–ZNR nanocomposites were superior to those of pure ZNRs and P25 in the degradation of resorcinol (ReOH). Furthermore, WO3–ZNR nanocomposites showed very favorable recycle use potential and high sedimentation rate. Other endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) such as phenol, bisphenol A (BPA) and methylparaben were also successfully photodegraded under identical conditions. These characteristics showed the practical applications of the WO3–ZNR nanocomposites in indoor environmental remediation.