Structure and photocatalytic activity of Ni-doped ZnO nanorods

The one-dimensional (1D) Zn1−xNixO (x = 0, 0.02, 0.05, 0.10) nanorods have been synthesized by a simple hydrothermal method. New bands show at ∼130 cm−1 in the Raman spectra of Ni-doped ZnO nanorods and their relative intensity depends on the doping concentration of nickel. The optical band gap of the ZnO nanorods have been tuned by Ni-doping, which is revealed by absorption spectra. The photocatalytic activity of Zn1−xNixO was studied by comparing the degradation rate of rhodamine B (RB) under UV-light irradiation. It was found that Zn0.95Ni0.05O exhibited the highest photocatalytic degradation efficiency among the samples.

Degradation rates of rhodamine B by Zn1−xNixO photocatalyst.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights
► The Ni-doped ZnO nanorods show a new band at ∼130 cm−1 in Raman spectra at room temperature. We conclude this mode is caused by an ordered arrangement of Ni dopants in the ZnO lattice.
► When the Ni-doping concentration raises, the band gap first increases and then decreases.
► The ZnO nanorods with different Ni-doping concentraton all exhibited higher photocatalytic activity than un-doped ZnO. The order of photocatalytic activities is Zn0.95Ni0.05O > Zn0.9Ni0.1O > Zn0.98Ni0.02O > ZnO.