Facile synthesis of ZnO hollow microspheres and their high performance in photocatalytic degradation and dye sensitized solar cells

ZnO hollow microspheres (MSs) were prepared via directly thermal decomposing zinc acetate in diethylene glycol. An interesting Ostwald ripening process was observed based on the time-dependent experiments. The as-prepared hollow MSs demonstrated enhanced performances and circling stability in photo-degradation of organic azodye Rhodamine B (RhB). When used as photoanode materials for dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC), higher power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 4.3% was achieved, which experiences great improvements compared with the devices deriving from ZnO MSs and yolk/shell MSs. Based on the structural and optical investigations, the improved performances results from the multiple scattering effects occurring in the chamber of the hollow MSs.