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Polymorphous ZnO Nanostructures: Zn Polar Surface‐Guided Size and Shape Evolution Mechanism and Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity
Author(s) -
Zhao Yanting,
Cui Tingting,
Wu Tong,
Jin Chen,
Qiao Ru,
Qian Yao,
Tong Guoxiu
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
chemcatchem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.497
H-Index - 106
eISSN - 1867-3899
pISSN - 1867-3880
DOI - 10.1002/cctc.201700135
Subject(s) - photocatalysis , rhodamine b , materials science , nanostructure , surface plasmon resonance , chemical engineering , nanotechnology , surface energy , specific surface area , etching (microfabrication) , catalysis , photochemistry , nanoparticle , chemistry , layer (electronics) , composite material , organic chemistry , engineering
This study proposes a simple, low‐temperature chemical etching method for selective preparation of monodispersed, hexagonal, single‐crystal ZnO nanostructures. The morphological evolution from nanoplates (NPs) to nanoseals (NSs), nanobowls (NBs), and nanorings (NRs) is initiated by positively charged (0 0 0 1) Zn polar surface and driven by the principle of minimum energy. The relationship among the morphology, dimensions, and function of ZnO was determined by investigating polar planes, surface areas, energy bands, defects, optical properties, and catalytic activity for rhodamine B degradation. The ZnO NBs and ZnO NRs exhibit improved photocatalytic performance because of enhanced light harvesting and plasmonic resonance enhanced absorption. Surface recombination plays a key role in the apparent rate constant k for ZnO NBs with small size and those formed at low reaction temperatures. The photocatalytic activity of ZnO NBs formed at high reaction temperatures decreases with increasing size because of the decreased surface area.