In-situ observation of hydrothermal growth of ZnO nanowires on patterned Zn substrate and their photocatalytic performance

- ZnO nanowire is synthesized on Zn-patterned Cu foil via a simple hydrothermal process.
- Evolutions of ZnO morphologies and spectra depending on reaction conditions are studied.
- A successive nucleation and growth mechanism is proposed.
- ZnO nanowire films display a high photodegradation activity to methyl orange.
- Photocatalytic activity of ZnO nanowires shows little decrease after six recycling runs.