A new method for synthesis of ZnO flower-like nanostructures and their photocatalytic performance

ZnO flower-like nanostructures have been successfully synthesized by a new and facile hydrothermal method. Their crystal structures and photocatalytic performance were also investigated. The amount of surfactant cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) added to the precursor had an important effect on the ultimate morphology of the ZnO flower-like nanostructures. As the CTAB amount increased, the petals of the ZnO nanoflowers architecture changed from nanorods to nanosheets. In addition, for the nanoflowers assembled by nanosheets, the thickness of nanosheet can be controlled by adjusting the CTAB amount. The plausible growth mechanisms of the ZnO flower-like nanostructures were proposed. Furthermore, the nanosheets-assembled nanoflowers exhibited better photocatalytic performance than the nanorods-assembled nanoflowers toward Rhodamine B owning to their larger specific area and more OH groups absorbed on the nanosheet surface.