Facile Solution Synthesis of Quasi-0D/2D ZnO/CuO and ZnO/CuO/NiO Composites for Improved Photocatalytic Performance

摘要

Heterostructure ZnO/CuO (ZC) and ZnO/CuO/NiO (ZCN) composites aresynthesized using a simple solution method. X-ray diffraction and field-emissionscanning electron microscopy show that quasispherical (0D) monoclinic CuOand/or cubic NiO nanoparticles are found on the surface of the 2D hexagonalZnO sheets. The photocatalytic properties of the composites in organic pollutantdegradation and water splitting can be regulated by adjusting the proportions ofCu/Zn and Ni/Zn added during sample preparation. When ZnO is integratedwith high levels of CuO, the binary ZC composites exhibit outstanding photocatalyticperformance in degrading methylene blue. Photocatalytic water splittingfor H_2 production is improved after considerably reducing CuO levels. When ZnOis codoped with low CuO and NiO levels, the photocatalytic performance ofternary ZCN in H_2 production is significantly enhanced. Herein, a method fordesigning ZnO-based sheetanoparticle heterostructures is provided, which arewidely used as efficient photocatalysts.