Influence of Li-doping on structural characteristics and photocatalytic activity of ZnO nano-powder formed in a novel solution pyro-hydrolysis route

► Li-doping improves the photocatalytic ability of ZnO. ► The reactivation of the deactivated ZnO catalyst can be achieved by washing with H2O. ► 10 wt.% Li-doped ZnO completely decomposes 1 mM methylene blue solution in 40 min. ► A simple solution pyro-hydrolysis technique can be employed to synthesize nano-sized ZnO powders. ► Li and Al co-doped ZnO follows first order kinetics in methylene blue degradation reaction.