ZnO nanoflake arrays prepared via anodization and their performance in the photodegradation of methyl orange

摘要

In the present work, anodization of zinc foil wasinvestigated in a mixed electrolyte of ammonium sulfate and sodiumhydroxide under the influence of different anodization times andconcentrations of the electrolyte while the temperature and voltagewere kept constant. The ZnO nanoflake arrays formed on Zn foil werecharacterized using a field emission scanning electron microscope(FESEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) analysis, andX-ray diffraction (XRD). The size of the nanoflakes increased as theanodization time increased, while increasing the concentration of(NH_4)_2SO_4 increased the dissolution of the nanoflakes. Uponstirring, the nanoflakes that formed were more uniform and smaller insize. The catalytic activity of ZnO nanoflakes in thephotodegradation of methyl orange (MO) solution under UV irradiationwas evaluated. The results indicated that the surface morphology,size, and surface area of ZnO nanoflake arrays were key factorsinfluencing the efficiency of ZnO in the photodegradation of MO.