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Two- and three-dimensional zinc oxide nanostructures and its photocatalytic dye degradation performance study

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Abstract

The zinc oxide (ZnO) nanostructures were synthesized using hydrothermal reaction technique at 180 °C with varying reaction time viz., 2, 4, 8 and 12 h and characterized with different spectroscopic/microscopic techniques. XRD indicate the formation of hexagonal phase of ZnO in all the prepared samples. The FESEM confirms the formation of hexagonal-shaped plate-like ZnO nanostructures having size in the range of 50 to 100 nm with the thickness of 10–15 nm, at 2 h reaction time. Further increase in the reaction time leads to increase in thickness of hexagonal ZnO plates resulting in formation of three-dimensional (3D) distorted spherical structures with facets. The photocatalytic activities were investigated by following degradation methylene blue (MB) dye. The ZnO prepared at 8 h of reaction time shows highest MB degradation rate, the apparent rate constant is 3.3 × 10–2 ± 0.1 × 10–2 min−1, almost five times more than 4 h reaction time.

Graphic abstract

Photocatalytic dye degradation mechanism for two- & three-dimensional Zinc Oxide nanostructures on FESEM enlarge image of 8 h reaction time. Recycle study of MB degradation up to 5 recycles is shown (photographs of MB dye at time t0 and t120)

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Acknowledgments

Dr. Vikram Uttam Pandit is thankful to Savitribai Phule Pune University’s Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC) for ‘Aspire Research Mentorship Grant’ (No. 18TEC001239). Authors are grateful to Dr. Ganesh Raut (Principal) and Dr. Girish Pathade (Ex-Principal), Haribhai V. Desai College, Pune, Shri. Kiritbhai Shah (Chairman), Shri. Hemantbhai Maniar (Secretary), and Shri. Abhijeet Pawar (Self Finance Incharge) ‘The Poona Gujarati Kelwani Mandal’ for fruitful discussions and providing lab facilities. Authors are also grateful to Dr. Bharat B. Kale, Director General (A) and Dr. Sunit B. Rane, Senior Scientist, C-MET, Pune for providing the necessary spectroscopic analysis facility.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, Ramkrishna More College, Pune, 411044, India

    Vivekanand Jawale, Gulab Gugale, Manohar Chaskar & Ramdas Pawar

  2. Department of Chemistry, Haribhai V. Desai College of Commerce, Arts and Science, Pune, 411002, India

    Gulab Gugale, Shivani Suryawanshi & Vikram Pandit

  3. Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune, 411007, India

    Manohar Chaskar

  4. Department of Chemistry, Padmashri Vikhe Patil College, Pravaranagar, Ahmednagar, 413713, India

    Shivaji Pandit

  5. Centre for Materials for Electronic Technology (C-MET), Pune, 411008, India

    Govind Umarji & Sudhir Arbuj

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  1. Vivekanand Jawale
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Jawale, V., Gugale, G., Chaskar, M. et al. Two- and three-dimensional zinc oxide nanostructures and its photocatalytic dye degradation performance study. Journal of Materials Research 36, 1573–1583 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1557/s43578-021-00174-w

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