Facile synthesis of urchin-like ZnO nanostructures with enhanced optical properties

Novel urchin-like ZnO nanostructures were successfully synthesized via an electrodeposition-hydrothermal method and characterized using various analytical instruments. The as prepared samples were characterized by FESEM, XRD, UV-Vis, PL and photocatalytic test. And the effects of the electrodeposition time on the morphology, structure and optical properties have been investigated. In the FESEM, well defined shape of urchin-like ZnO nanostructures was generated. The band gaps of urchin-like ZnO nanostructures, determined from UV-Vis absorption spectra, are 3.13 eV. Photocatalytic investigation of ZnO nanostructures was carried out using methylene blue aqueous solution under UV-visible illumination. Urchin-like ZnO nanostructures prepared under 10 min showed enhanced photocatalytic performance in comparison with the others. The enhanced photocatalytic activity for urchin-like ZnO nanostructures might be resulting from the higher concentration of surface oxygen vacancies.