ZnO hollow nano-baskets for mineralization of cationic dye

•ZnO hollow nano-baskets (HNBs) are synthesized by reflux method.•ZnO-HNBs are applied as photocatalyst for the Rh6G-dye degradation.•Rapid degradation of Rh6G-dye by ~97% within ~90 min is recorded.•Hollow nanostructures might facilitate the degradation of Rh6G-dye.

The hollow nano-baskets (HNBs) of zinc oxide (ZnO) were synthesized by a simple low temperature solution method and used for the degradation of rhodamine 6 G (Rh6G) dye. Well-defined hollow nano-baskets morphology of ZnO was observed which displayed a band gap of ~3.26 eV. The photocatalytic degradation results revealed that the synthesized ZnO-HNBs exhibited a rapid degradation rate of ~97% of Rh6G-dye within ~90 min. The mineralization of Rh6G-dye was examined before and after the photocatalytic reaction by a mass spectroscopy of the dye. The rapid and high degradation of Rh6G-dye might be attributed to ZnO hollow nanostructures via improved catalyst contact with dye by the inner and external surface of ZnO.