Deactivation of photocatalytically active ZnO nanoparticle and enhancement of its compatibility with organic compounds by surface-capping with organically modified silica

▶ TEOS and DEDMS were used as the co-precursors of the sol-gel process for preparing ormosil. ZnO nanoparticles were surface-capped by the as-prepared ormosil. The surface properties of the ZnO nanoparticles can be tuned easily and precisely. The ormosil-capped ZnO nanoparticles showed strong hydrophobicity and compatibility with organic phase. And their photocatalytic activity significantly reduced while their UV-shielding ability almost unchanged.