Speedy photocatalytic degradation of bromophenol dye over ZnO nanoflowers

A simple, low temperature solution method was employed to synthesize ZnO nanoflowers (NFs) using zinc nitrate as precursor for the photocatalytic degradation of bromophenol (Bph) dye. The synthesized materials exhibited well-defined flower like morphology comprised of several defined nanorods. The crystalline and optical observations manifested the high crystallinity of ZnO-NFs with wide band gap of ∼3.21 eV. The synthesized ZnO NFs as catalysts presented a rapid degradation of Bph-dye with the degradation rate of ∼96% within 120 min under the UV light irradiation. The fragmentations of Bph-dye after the photocatalytic reaction over ZnO-NFs were analyzed by interpreting the mass spectroscopy of degraded Bph-dye.