Low-Temperature Solvothermal Synthesis of Triangular, Spherical, and Urchin-Like ZnO

This study explores the synthesis and characterization of ZnO particles with varying morphologies-triangular, spherical, and urchin-like-that were produced through a simple, solvothermal process. The morphology, surface area, and photocatalytic performance of the ZnO particles could be customized by meticulously regulating the synthesis parameters, particularly the temperature and solvent. The findings indicated that all samples crystallized as pure wurtzite ZnO with a uniform crystallite size of 34.7 +/- 1.8 nm and energy band gap of 3.29 eV. The spherical E-200 particles, which exhibit the highest photocatalytic efficiency, achieved an average of 25.27 +/- 5.88% methylene blue (MB) degradation after 24 h. These particles were distinguished by a significant surface area of 30.56 m(2)/g and an average pore size of 45 nm. Furthermore, all ZnO samples exhibited a significant adsorption capacity (<= 20%) for MB under dark condition, underscoring their potential as effective adsorbents for environmental pollutants. These results emphasize the significance of precise synthesis and morphology control in the optimization of functional properties of ZnO for environmental remediation applications.