Controlled synthesis and photocatalytic performance of ZnO nano/microstructures via facile aqueous solution route

Nanosheet-assembled ZnO flower-like ensembles, urchin-like ZnO nanorod assemblies and ZnO nanorods, were synthesised by a facile solution-based route. The Zn²⁺:OH^- molar ratio was adjusted to obtain ZnO with different morphologies. Scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and an ultraviolet spectrophotometer were used to observe the morphology, crystal structure and photocatalytic activity of obtained ZnO in detail. The flower-like ZnO ensembles composed of ultra-thin nanosheets exhibited a much better photocatalytic activity than ZnO in the other morphologies, and the decomposition efficiency was 90.26%. It can be concluded that the presence of the photocatalytic activity depends on the morphology of the ZnO samples.