Enhanced photocatalytic activity of Co doped ZnO nanodisks and nanorods prepared by a facile wet chemical method

Abstract

Cobalt doped ZnO nanodisks and nanorods were synthesized by a facile wet chemical method and well characterized by X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, photoluminescence spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy and UV-visible absorption spectroscopy. The photocatalytic activities were evaluated for sunlight driven degradation of an aqueous methylene blue (MB) solution. The results showed that Co doped ZnO nanodisks and nanorods exhibit highly enhanced photocatalytic activity, as compared to pure ZnO nanodisks and nanorods. The enhanced photocatalytic activities of Co doped ZnO nanostructures were attributed to the combined effects of enhanced surface area of ZnO nanodisks and improved charge separation efficiency due to optimal Co doping which inhibit recombination of photogenerated charge carriers. The possible mechanism for the enhanced photocatalytic activity of Co doped ZnO nanostructures is tentatively proposed.

Morphology Transition Engineering of ZnO Nanorods to Nanoplatelets Grafted Mo8O23-MoO2 by Polyoxometalates: Mechanism and Possible Applicability to other Oxides

“…Schematic diagram depicting the growth mechanism of ZnO nanorods is shown in Fig. 4 105 . It is well known that, the preferential growth of the polar crystal of ZnO nanostructure is along c-axis [(0001) direction], in which the tip of the nanorod is terminated by Zn 105 .…”

Enhancement photocatalytic activity of the graphite-like C 3 N 4 coated hollow pencil-like ZnO

“…In recent years, in order to degrade the contaminants and dyes, the photocatalytic strategy has aroused extensive research interests [4][5]. Among many reported semiconductor photocatalysts, ZnO had been widely studied due to its outstanding merits, such as lost-cost, non-toxic, and high stability [6][7][8]. Unfortunately, there still some intrinsic properties on ZnO which will restrict its applications in degradation process: 1) The higher recombination rate between the electrons and holes will greatly decline the degradation activity; 2) The wide gap of ZnO makes the high photocatalytic activity occur only in the ultraviolet region [9].…”

The Applications of Morphology Controlled ZnO in Catalysis

“…Kuriakose et al successfully prepared Co-doped ZnO nanodisks and nanorods through a facile wet chemical method and enhanced photocatalytic activity was obtained [182]. The enhanced photocatalytic activities were attributed to the combined effects of the high surface area of the ZnO nanodisks and high charge separation efficiency caused by optimal Co doping.…”

“…[182,183] Cu-ZnO (doping) Rod-like, disk sphere-like The existence of (001) polar surfaces, oxygen vacancies, and increased optical absorbance at visible wavelengths [184] Pd-ZnO (doping) Nanofiber The PdO/ZnO heterostructures and the increase of the surface area [185] ZnO/Au (doping) Nanorods…”