In Situ Synthesis of ZnO Nanorods/Graphene Oxide Composite and Its Photocatalytic Property.

Abstract

Graphene oxide (GO) was firstly synthesized from natural graphite powders based on a modified Hummers' method, and then large area GO film was formed by a self-assembly mechanism. Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanorods array was synthesized on the GO film using a facile hydrothermal method in an aqueous solution of zinc acetate [Zn(CH₃COO)₂·2H₂O] and hexamethylenetetramine (C6H12N₄) to form the ZnO nanorods/GO composite. The as-synthesized products were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Raman spectrum and X-ray diffractometer (XRD). The photocatalytic activity of the ZnO nanorods/GO composite was investigated using the methylene blue (MB) in aqueous solution under ultraviolet (UV) light irradiation. It was indicated that the ZnO nanorods/GO composite exhibited significantly better photocatalytic property, which can be attributed to the high specific surface of the ZnO nanorods, the enhanced light absorption of the composite and the strong decrease in charge carrier recombinations originating from the association of ZnO nanorods with GO film.