Fabrication and photocatalytic properties of novel ZnO/ZnAl2O4 nanocomposite with ZnAl2O4 dispersed inside ZnO network |
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| Authors: | Xiaofei Zhao Lei Wang Xin Xu Xiaodong Lei Sailong Xu Fazhi Zhang |
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| Affiliation: | State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China |
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| Abstract: | Novel ZnO/ZnAl2O4 nanocomposites with ZnAl2O4 nanoparticles homogeneously dispersed inside a network of ZnO are fabricated by thermal treatment of a single‐source precursor of ZnAl‐layered double hydroxides (ZnAl‐LDHs) at 800°C. The effects of the Zn/Al molar ratio of the LDH precursors on the structure, composition, morphology, textural as well as UV‐absorbing properties and photocatalytic activities of the nanocomposites are investigated in detail. The results show that the ZnO/ZnAl2O4 nanocomposites derived from the ZnAl‐LDHs precursors have superior photocatalytic performances to either single phase ZnO or similar ZnO/ZnAl2O4 samples fabricated by chemical coprecipitation or physical mixing method. The heterojunction nanostructure and the strong coupling between the ZnO and ZnAl2O4 phase derived from ZnAl‐LDHs precursors are proposed to contribute the efficient spatial separation between the photo‐generated electrons and holes, which can concomitantly improve the photocatalytic activities. © 2011 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2012 |
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| Keywords: | photocatalysis heterojunction layered double hydroxides ZnO/ZnAl2O4 nanocomposites semiconductor |
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