Abstract
Three dimensional ZnO microflowers with a huge number of hexagonal pyramid-like petals have been effectively synthesized via the thermal decomposition of previously melted nitrate precursor for the first time. The synthesis was done without the aid of any structure directing agents or templates. Powder X-ray diffraction patterns showed the hexagonal wurtzite crystalline structure of ZnO with high phase purity. The dimension of the large microflower noted was found to be around 100 μm with the simultaneous existence of small flowers, with size varying from 20 μm onwards as realized from the scanning electron microscopic images. Transmission electron microscopy and selected area electron diffraction patterns confirmed the oriented growth of the single crystalline basic hexagonal pyramidal units of the microflower for its oriented aggregation. A possible growth/formation mechanism was interpreted. The photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue was investigated over ZnO microflowers. ZnO microflowers showed its excellent photocatalytic activity in the degradation of several industrial dye pollutants over a low catalyst dosage under UV-light irradiation. The microflowers were found to be highly reusable for repeated degradation of methylene blue dye pollutant.
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