Facile synthesis of ZnO nanoglobules and its photocatalytic activity in the degradation of methyl orange dye under UV irradiation

ZnO nanoglobules were synthesized by a facile hydrothermal process. The detailed structural characterizations revealed that the prepared ZnO nanostructures were uniform, crystalline and with the controlled morphology of nanoglobule-like structures. The photocatalytic activity of the nanoglobules was evaluated on degrading methyl orange dye under UV irradiation. A fast decomposition of the MO dye was observed with a degradation rate of similar to 94.3% within 150 mm, which was attributed to the high crystalline quality of ZnO nanostructures that produced reactive sites over the catalyst surface to decompose the MO dye. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.