Application of microcrystalline cellulose to fabricate ZnO with enhanced photocatalytic activity

Abstract

Microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), deriving from naturally renewable biomass resources, has been used to fabricate nanocrystalline ZnO materials via a facile hydrothermal method. XRD analysis results indicate that the obtained ZnO crystallite possess hexagonal wurtzite structure. Its morphology was measured by SEM, showing slice clusters and flowers. Comparatively, ZnO of irregular slices was prepared when no MCC was added in the synthetic route. ZnO synthesized with and without MCC behaves quite different photocatalytic activity. It is found that photocatalytic efficiency of ZnO prepared by 1g MCC on degrading methylene blue reaches 98.3% under UV irradiation (power of 6W). This is higher than the catalytic efficiency of both the ZnO prepared without MCC addition and of the commercial Degussa P25. Simultaneously, the as-prepared ZnO also exhibits excellent reusable ability. No obvious abatement is observed after the catalyst is re-used for 5 cycles. Taken together high photocatalytic and re-used efficiency, we anticipate that our controllable, environment-friendly and cost-effective approach can be applied to synthesize ZnO catalytic materials on a large scale.