ZnO nanoparticles as solar photocatalysts: synthesis, effect of annealing temperature and applications

ZnO nanoparticles were prepared by a hydrothermal method from the source materials of Zinc acetylacetonate hydrate and ammonium hydroxide. Further prepared samples were annealed at various temperatures for 3 hours. X-ray diffraction analysiswas employed to study the structure and crystalline nature of synthesized nanoparticles. Scanning electron microscope images showed that the prepared ZnO nanoparticles acquired nano needle, hexagonal disk and porous nanorods structures due to the effect of annealing temperature. The photocatalytic activity of the prepared ZnO nanoparticles was evaluated for Methyl Blue (MB) dye which showed 94% of degradation and good stability for five cycles.