Fabrication of ordered flower-like ZnO nanostructures by a microwave and ultrasonic combined technique and their enhanced photocatalytic activity

Ordered flower-like zinc oxide (ZnO) nanostructures were fabricated via a facile microwave and ultrasonic combined technique. The product was characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and selected area electron diffraction pattern (SAED). The flower-like ZnO nanostructures were assembled by a central petal and six symmetrical petals which grew radially from the center. The flower-like ZnO sample showed an enhanced photocatalytic performance compared with the ZnO microrods for the methylene blue (MB) degradation, which could be attributed to its special structure feature. Au/ZnO and Ag/ZnO nanocomposites were also synthesized and exhibited enhanced photocatalytic efficiency after decorating noble metal nanoparticles on the surface of flower-like ZnO nanostructures.

► Flower-like ZnO nanostructures were fabricated via a microwave-ultrasonic technique.
► It was assembled by a central and six symmetrical petals which grew from the center.
► Flower-like ZnO nanostructures showed good photocatalytic performance.
► (Au,Ag)/ZnO nanocomposties exhibited improved photocatalytic efficiency.