Simple synthesis of ZnO nanoflowers and its photocatalytic performances toward the photodegradation of metamitron

• Fabrication of ZnO nanoflowers assembled from thin and uniform nanosheets.
• The material possesses photocatalytic acitivity toward degradation of metamitron.
• The catalyst features excellent cycling stability for at least 5 cycle times.
• The promising mechanism of photocatalysis of metamitron is also discussed.

Large-scale ZnO nanoflowers assembled from numerous thin and uniform nanosheets with a thickness of around 20 nm, were successfully prepared through a facile one-step hydrothermal synthesis route by using zinc acetate, sodium citrate and sodium hydroxide in water solution. The method was simple, green and effective. The obtained ZnO nanoflowers exhibited remarkable photocatalytic acitivity and good cycle stability for the degradation of metamitron under a 300 W of Osram® ultra-vitalux lamp light emitting UV and visible radiation over 300–600 nm. UV–vis spectrophotometery was used to measure the rate of photodecomposition of metamitron. The results indicate that about 97% of the metamitron disappeared in the suspension of flower-like ZnO microspheres within four hours, and the degradation efficiency were not changed even after 5 cycle times.

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