Synthesis of ZnO microcrystals and their photocatalytic ability in the degradation of textile azo dyes

摘要

Flower and broken sheet-like zinc oxide (ZnO) microcrystals have been prepared via a thermal decomposition process, using Zn_5(CO_3)_2(OH)_6 as the precursor in the presence of glycerol at 300 and 600 C. The ZnO products were examined as a photocatalyst for the UV-induced degradation of Yellow 181 and Red 245 (textile azo dyes) in water solution. The applicability of the Langmuir-Hinshelwood kinetic equation revealed that the degradation of dyes occurred mainly on the surface of the photocatalyst.