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One dimensional (1D) ZnO nanorods were successfully synthesized via a facile solution route by refluxing their acetate precursors in diethylene glycol medium at 160°C. The as‐prepared ZnO nanorods were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy, X‐ray diffraction, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Experimental results demonstrated that the resultant products showed a 1D rod‐like hexagonal wurtzite crystal structure with diameters of about 5 nm and lengths of up to 100–200 nm. A possible growth mechanism of ZnO nanorods was tentatively proposed. Photocatalytic measurements demonstrated that the as‐prepared ZnO nanorods showed higher photocatalytic activities than the commercial photocatalyst TiO2 P25 nanoparticles. In addition, the effect of solution pH values and initial solution concentrations on the photocatalytic activities of as‐prepared ZnO nanorods was also evaluated. © 2014 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 34: 74–80, 2015

Well-ordered TiO 2 nanotube arrays (TNAs) were fabricated by electrochemical anodization in a mixed organic electrolyte consisting of ethylene glycol and glycerol. The morphology, structure, crystalline phase, and photocatalytic properties of TNAs were characterized by using TEM, SEM, XRD and photodegradation of methylene blue. It was found that the morphology and structure of TNAs could be significantly influenced by the anodization time and applied voltage. The obtained tube length was found to be proportional to anodization time, and the calculated growth rate of nanotubes was 0.6 m/h. The microstructure analysis demonstrated that the diameter and thickness of the nanotubes increased with the increase of anodization voltage. The growth mechanism of TNAs was also proposed according to the observed relationship between current density and time during anodization. As expected, the obtained TNAs showed a higher photocatalytic activity than the commercial TiO 2 P25 nanoparticles.TiO 2 nanotube arrays (TNAs), anodization, organic electrolytes, photocatalysis

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In this work, thermally exfoliated graphene nanosheets (GNS) were employed to prepare novel Ag3PO4–GNS composite photocatalysts by a facile chemical precipitation approach. The as-prepared Ag3PO4–GNS composite photocatalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Raman spectroscopy, thermogravimetric (TG) analysis, ultraviolet-visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) and photoluminescence (PL) spectra. It was found that the Ag3PO4 particles were well deposited on the surfaces of GNS. Compared with bare Ag3PO4 and Ag3PO4–rGO composite, the Ag3PO4–GNS composite exhibited enhanced photocatalytic activity for the photodegradation of rhodamine B (RhB) under visible light irradiation. The photocatalytic degradation rate of Ag3PO4–GNS composite was 1.7 times that of bare Ag3PO4 and about 1.3 times that of Ag3PO4–rGO for the degradation of RhB. Furthermore, the photocatalytic stability of Ag3PO4–GNS composite was also greatly enhanced. This enhanced photocatalytic activity and stability could be ascribed to the positive synergetic effects between the Ag3PO4 particles and GNS sheets, which could provide a greater number of active adsorption sites, suppress charge recombination and reduce the serious photocorrosion of Ag3PO4. Moreover, the photocatalytic degradation of RhB over Ag3PO4–GNS composites was also optimized, suggesting that the optimal amount of GNS in the composites was 11.4[Formula: see text]wt.%. This work shows a great potential of Ag3PO4–GNS composite for environmental treatment of organic pollutants.