Improved photocatalytic performance of ZnO prepared by sol–gel method with the assistance of CTAB

Abstract

Highly photo-catalytically active ZnO photocatalyst was prepared by sol–gel method with the assistance of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB). The surface parameters, structure, morphology and the photoinduced charge separation rate of the photocatalyst prepared (ZnO–CTAB) were characterized by Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) method, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and surface photovoltage spectroscopy (SPS), respectively. The results reveal that CTAB alters the surface parameters and the morphology, and enhances the photoinduced charge separation rate of ZnO. The photocatalytic activity of ZnO–CTAB for decolorization of methyl orange (MO) solution was evaluated. The results show that the photocatalytic activity of ZnO–CTAB is three times of that of the reference ZnO and the possible reason was discussed.