Controlled modulation of 1D ZnO nano/micro structures: Evaluation of the various effects on the photocatalytic activity

Abstract

Effects of the concentration, temperature and precursor type on the fabrication of the elongated ZnO nano/micro structures were comprehensively investigated. Analytical investigations such as SEM and statistical analysis of the elongated ZnO nano/micro structures provided wide information about the growth behavior and final geometries. Different temperatures for the 1 D ZnO formation clearly revealed that hexagonally grown ZnO nanorods were obtained. Especially low crystal diffraction characteristics at low temperature (55 °C) implied that ZnO nano/micro rod formation requires some minimum conditions for the formation of an efficient photocatalyst. All XRD investigations together with SEM and TEM supported the ligand ordered elongation conducted by diverse beginning concentrations. Since temperature found as a highly dominant actor for morphology and surface sequence as manifested in crystallinity, morphology and photocatalytic results, we have systematically summarized the growth conditions of the ZnO nano/micro rods from same precursor. © 2017 Elsevier Ltd