Title: Photocatalytic oxidation of NO_x gases using ZnO with superstructure by a low temperature soft solution process

Authors: Yunfang Huang; Chongshen Guo; Lijun Huang; Qiang Dong; Shu Yin; Tsugio Sato

Addresses: College of Chemical Engineering, Huaqiao University, Xiamen, 361021, China; Institute of Multidisciplinary Research for Advanced Materials, Tohoku University, 2-1-1, Katahira, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8577, Japan. ' Institute of Multidisciplinary Research for Advanced Materials, Tohoku University, 2-1-1, Katahira, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8577, Japan. ' Institute of Multidisciplinary Research for Advanced Materials, Tohoku University, 2-1-1, Katahira, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8577, Japan. ' Institute of Multidisciplinary Research for Advanced Materials, Tohoku University, 2-1-1, Katahira, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8577, Japan. ' Institute of Multidisciplinary Research for Advanced Materials, Tohoku University, 2-1-1, Katahira, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8577, Japan. ' Institute of Multidisciplinary Research for Advanced Materials, Tohoku University, 2-1-1, Katahira, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8577, Japan

Abstract: Single phase of crystalline ZnO with controllable morphologies, including spindle-like, sunflower-like, dandelion-like and disk-like structures samples, have been successfully synthesised via a simple and effective low-temperature approach in a mixed solution of zinc nitrate and hexamethylenetetramine, with and without 2-aminoethanol as an accelerant. The ZnO crystal with different morphology can be obtained by simply varying the additive and reaction time. The samples were characterised by XRD, SEM, DRS and BET. The prepared ZnO with the sunflower-like superstructure showed excellent photocatalytic activity for the decomposition of NO_x gas under UV light irradiation, being superior to that of a standard TiO₂ (Aeroxide P25) powder.

Keywords: crystalline ZnO; zinc oxide; photocatalytic activity; superstructures; photocatalytic oxidation; NOx gases; nitrogen oxides; low temperature; morphology control; UV light irradiation; nanotechnology.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNT.2013.050878

International Journal of Nanotechnology, 2013 Vol.10 No.1/2, pp.30 - 37

Published online: 07 Dec 2012 *

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