Abstract

Carbon-doped ZrO2 photocatalysts with three-dimensional (3D) flower-like architecture were successfully prepared by one-step sol–gel-hydrothermal process using zirconatrane precursor for use as a high-performance material for the methylene blue (MB) degradation and the enhanced photoelectrochemical (PEC) properties compared with zero-dimensional ZrO2 nanoparticles and commercial TiO2 nanoparticles (P25). These mesoporous microflower structures consisted of ZrO2 nanopetals, implying good intercrystalline connections and effective light absorption. The synergy of carbon doping and flower-like hierarchical 3D architecture greatly promoted the photocatalytic efficiency for MB degradation under visible light. In view of these advantageous features inherited from the carbon-doped ZrO2 with flower-like structure can be used as photoanode materials. A high photoconversion efficiency of 3.17% was achieved from flower-like carbon-doped ZrO2, which increased by 575% and 1168% compared with those of the PEC devices based on ZrO2 nanoparticles and P25, respectively.

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