Organic Solvent Assisted Growth of Flower-like ZnO for Enhanced Photocatalytic Activities

A new method was developed to grow zinc oxide (ZnO) nano-flowers via an organic solvent assisted growth technique. Flower-like ZnO nanostructures were successfully prepared from the solution method, without using surfactant, complexing agent or stabilizer. The influences of different organic solvents on the growth of ZnO nanostructures were investigated. A simple growth mechanism was proposed, to demonstrate the role of solvent molecules in the growth of flower-like ZnO. The structural and photoluminescence properties of synthesized flower-like ZnO were analyzed, using X-ray diffraction, photoluminescence studies, field emission scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. For photocatalytic activity, flower-like ZnO nanomaterials, upon ultraviolet irradiation, act as an excellent photocatalyst for the decomposition of two commercial organic dyes, 4-[(4-dimethylaminophenyl) phenyl-methyl]-N,N-dimethylaniline (malachite green) and 4-[(4-Aminophenyl)-(4-imino-1-cyclohexa-2,5-dienylidene)methyl] aniline hydrochloride (basic fuchsin); and these were investigated. Upon UV irradiation, a significant enhancement in photocatalytic activity was observed in both dyes.