Nanoporous ZnO nanostructures for photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants

ZnO porous bamboo-leave-like nanorods and nanoporous networks were prepared by thermal conversion from Zn2CO3(OH)2⋅H2O bamboo-leave-like nanorods, Zn(OH)2 nanoparticle networks and Zn(OH)2 long nanostrand networks, respectively. Among them, the ZnO nanoporous networks prepared from Zn(OH)2 nanostrands had the highest surface area of 78.57 m2/g and presented the best photocatalytic decomposition of organics. The morphologies of the Zn(OH)2 nanostructures significantly depended on the solvent used for the precursors of aminoethanol and Zn(NO3)2 and then determined the corresponding structures and properties of the final ZnO nanostructures. The ethanol/water mixture solvent dramatically increased the stability of Zn(OH)2 nanostrands. This is very beneficial for the collection and application of Zn(OH)2 nanostrands.