One pot synthesis of ZnO hexagonal bugle beads in a closed polypropylene vessel: a simple hydrothermal way of synthesizing nanocrystalline ZnO photocatalyst for waste water treatments

Abstract

Here, we report a novel and eco-friendly synthesis of zinc oxide (ZnO) hexagonal bugle beads in a closed polypropylene vessel. To the best of our knowledge, we are the first to report synthesis of ZnO nanostructures in a closed polypropylene vessel (a simple hydrothermal reactor). Structural, morphological, compositional and optical properties of the nanostructures were studied. X-ray diffraction (XRD) results demonstrate that ZnO nanocrystals grow in a single crystalline hexagonal phase. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) reveal formation of nano-dimensional hexagonal bugle beads (base diameter ∼70 nm). The ZnO nanostructures were used to carry photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB) dye. The beads show high photocatalytic performance against MB dye and degraded 89% of the dye in 120 min of UV light irradiation. The reusability test of zinc oxide bugle beads determine high stability of the photocatalyst.