Simple and rapid preparation of spherical flower-like ZnO and their photocatalytic property

The influences brought about by different microstructure of ZnO on its special chemical and optical properties have been widely discussed. Precipitates from the mixed solution of oleic acid with Zn(NO3)(2) and KOH were investigated using SEM, TEM, XRD, Raman, and FTIR. The obtained microstructure of the ZnO precipitates was proved to be a unique hierarchical structure consisted of 5 nm thick nanosheets. The catalytic property of the received flower-like ZnO was explored, and it was found that the photodegradable property of rhodamine B was largely improved when the precipitates were heat treated at 500 degrees C for 2 h due to a high crystallinity with a heat treatment, and the decomposition of the oleic acid molecules. [GRAPHICS] . (C) 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim