Structural rearrangement of mesostructured silica nanoparticles incorporated with ZnO catalyst and its photoactivity: Effect of alkaline aqueous electrolyte concentration

- Hierarchical-like structure of MSN was formed in alkaline aqueous electrolyte.
- Desilication generated abundant silanol groups and oxygen vacancies.
- Zn2+ inserted to external -OH groups of the MSN to form Si-O-Zn bonds.
- Oxygen vacancies trapped electrons to enhance electron-hole pair separation.
- Hydroxyl radical generated from three main sources greatly influenced photoactivity.