Distinct water activation on polar/non-polar facets of ZnO nanoparticles

• Water activation/dissociation was compared on the ZnO polar and non-polar facets.
• Formation of oxygen vacancy on ZnO non-polar facet is much facile than that on ZnO polar facet.
• Facile water activation is confirmed by the bio-ethanol to acetone reaction in which water dissociation is involved.

ZnO nanoparticles with differing dominant facets were prepared and characterized by a complimentary of techniques such as X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy, temperature programmed desorption of H2O, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis of adsorbed D2O. For the first time, water interaction/activation is compared on ZnO polar and non-polar facets. We report that non-polar facets exhibit high activity in water activation, which favors reactions such as ketonization and steam reforming in which dissociated water is involved. The distinct water dissociation on ZnO non-polar facets could be related to its facile formation of oxygen vacancies under realistic reaction conditions.

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