Microwave synthesis of porous ZnGaNO solid solution for improved visible light photocatalytic performance

Porous ZnGaNO solid solution has been synthesized through a facile microwave route. The product was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and UV-vis diffuse reflection spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Energy dispersed spectrometer (EDS) and N-2-sorption. The growth process of porous ZnGaNO solid solution is investigated by XRD and SEM. The porous structure is supposed to be attributed to the release of the gaseous side products and the structural contraction through a pseudo-topological transformation. The activity of porous ZnGaNO photocatalyst for photo-degradation of isopropyl alcohol (IPA) is much higher than that of ZnGaNO solid solution prepared by a solid state reaction. The as-prepared porous ZnGaNO photocatalyst exhibits an improved photocatalytic activity due to the strong gas adsorption by the porous structure and the enhancement of extended light absorption by the higher Zn content. (C) 2012 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.