Template-free synthesis and photocatalytic properties of flower-like ZnOHF nanostructures

A facile one-step solution-based method with the assistance of N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) has been developed to prepare well-dispersed hierarchical flower-like ZnOHF nanostructures, in which DMF acts not only as solvent but also as surface-functionalizing agent. The prepared ZnOHF are characterized for the structural and morphological properties by XRD, SEM and TEM. The SEM and TEM results indicate that the hierarchical ZnOHF nanoflowers are assembled by numerous nanowires. The amount of DMF and reaction time play crucial roles in the formation of hierarchical nanowires-assembled ZnOHF nanoflowers. After calcination, the ZnOHF is completely transformed into ZnO while the flower structures are perfectly retained. The hierarchical ZnOHF and ZnO nanoflowers exhibit specific surface areas up to 48.8 m2/g and 71.2 m2/g, respectively. The as-obtained ZnOHF and ZnO nanoflowers exhibit excellent UV light photocatalytic activity for photodegradation of Rhodamine B.