Stable Crystalline Research Articles

Electrochemical removal and recovery of phosphorus from wastewater using cathodic membrane filtration reactor

Removal and recovery of phosphorus (P) from wastewater is of great importance to addressing the challenges of eutrophication and phosphorus shortage. The P removal and recovery performance of conventional electrochemical precipitation approach was constrained by the limited mass transfer rate. Herein, a cathodic membrane filtration (CMF) reactor was developed using Ti/SnO2-Sb anode and titanium mesh cathodic membrane module to achieve efficient removal and recovery of P in wastewater. Compared with the flow-by mode, the CMF system in the flow-through mode exhibited excellent P removal performance due to the markedly enhanced mass transfer. At the current density of 4 A/m2, membrane flux of 16.6 L m−2 h−1, and Ca/P molar ratio of 1.67, the removal efficiency of P was 96.2% and the energy consumption was only 45.7 kWh/kg P. The local high pH of cathode surface played a vital role in P removal, which substantially accelerated the nucleation of calcium phosphate (CaP). Based on the crystalline and morphological characterization of the precipitates, the hydroxyapatite was the most stable crystalline phase of CaP, which was transformed from intermediate phases (such as dicalcium phosphate and amorphous calcium phosphate). This study paves the way for applying electrochemical membrane filtration system for P removal and recovery from wastewater.

New sustainable routes for gas separation membranes: The properties of poly(hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate) cast from green solvents

The gas separation performance of biopolymers is still scarcely characterized, mostly because of their poor thermomechanical properties and high crystallinity which is associated to low permeability. In this work we characterize the gas transport in a poly(hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) random copolymer, that has a relatively low crystallinity and good mechanical properties, combined with a renewable origin, biodegradability and biocompatibility. In the study we also compared several solvents for membrane casting, with different toxicity levels. We found that dimethyl carbonate allows the production of polymer films with transport properties similar to those obtained with the more toxic CHCl3, and it leads also to stable crystallinity of the samples over time. PHBV films show a size-sieving gas separation behaviour, as the permeability decreases significantly with the gas kinetic diameter. However, the strong energetic interactions of CO2 with the polymer matrix, confirmed by the Flory-Huggins model, induce a marked solubility-driven CO2/N2 and CO2/CH4 selectivity, which could make the material potentially interesting for CO2 removal processes.

Effect of Nd2O3 dosages and melting temperatures on pyrochlore borosilicate glass-ceramics immobilization

In this study, borosilicate glass-ceramic waste forms containing pyrochlore crystalline phase (PBGC) were prepared by one-step heat-treated method. The effect of Nd2O3 dosages and melting temperatures on the crystalline phases and microstructure of PBGC were studied by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). Product Consistency Test (PCT) was used to investigate the aqueous durability of PBGC. The 14 wt% Nd2O3 doping in PBGC contributes to the formation of pyrochlore (Ca,Na)(Nb,Ti)2Nd0.67O6F. The optimal supercooling region of the glass-ceramic is from the melting temperature of 1325 °C to the initial cooling temperature of 1000 °C. The prepared glass-ceramic has a stable pyrochlore crystalline structure. In addition, the normalized leaching rates of major elements in PBGC are comparable to those of standard reference glass for immobilization of high-level wastes (HLWs). The results of this study provide useful guidance on the immobilization of certain HLWs in the industry using glass-ceramic materials.

Synthesis and gas sensing properties of β-Fe2O3 derived from Fe/Ga bimetallic organic framework

The synthesis of stable β-Fe2O3 with high activity is the basis for its application in the fields of gas sensing and catalysis etc. Preparation of Metal oxide semiconductors by metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) is a promising technology for gas-sensitive detection due to the ease of designable crystal phase and shape of the materials. In this work, MIL53 (Fe/Ga) bimetallic organic frameworks (bi-MOF) were used to design and synthesize β-Fe2O3 with stable crystalline phase for efficient gas detection. These bi-MOF-derived β-Fe2O3 maintain the porous framework structure of the MIL-53(Fe/Ga) precursor, providing more active sites and generating abundant oxygen vacancies. Compared with the commonly used α-Fe2O3, the sensor based on bi-MOF-derived β-Fe2O3 (FGO) showed faster response/recovery time and better response to ethanol. These properties indicate that it is feasible to control the crystal structure of β-Fe2O3 with good gas-sensitive properties by introducing Ga ions into mil-53(Fe).

Mechanical Properties of Single-Crystal Calcite and Their Temperature and Strain-Rate Effects.

Calcite is the most stable crystalline phase of calcium carbonate. It is applied or found in composite products, the food industry, biomineralization, archaeology, and geology, and its mechanical properties have attracted more and more attention. In this paper, the mechanical behaviors of single-crystal calcite under uniaxial tension in different directions were simulated with the molecular dynamics method. The obtained elastic moduli are in good agreement with the experimental results. It has been found from further research that single-crystal calcite has typical quasi-brittle failure characteristics, and its elastic modulus, fracture strength, and fracture strain are all strongly anisotropic. The tensile failure is caused by dislocation emission, void formation, and phase transition along the and directions, but by continuous dislocation glide and multiplication along the direction. The fracture strength, fracture strain, and elastic modulus are all sensitive to temperature, but only elastic modulus is not sensitive to strain rate. The effects of temperature and logarithmic strain rate on fracture strength are in good agreement with the predictions of fracture dynamics.

Synergistic optimization of syngas quality and heavy metal immobilization during continuous microwave pyrolysis of sludge: Competitive relationships, reaction mechanisms, and energy efficiency assessment

To realize the efficient resource utilization of sewage sludge, this work explored the competitive relationship and reaction mechanisms between syngas quality optimization and heavy metals (HMs) immobilization. The results showed that continuous microwave pyrolysis (CMP) technology with an instantaneous temperature increase could shorten the pyrolysis time, and the biogas yield and syngas concentration reached 51.68 wt% and 83.6 vol%, respectively. Although a higher pyrolysis (750 °C) temperature could optimize the syngas quality, the HMs immobilization efficiency was reduced due to the deep pyrolysis of the biochar. The moderate pyrolysis temperature (650 °C) facilitated the rapid formation of biochar with abundant surface functional groups and pore structure, thus enhancing HMs immobilization. Furthermore, the HMs could also form more stable crystalline compounds with inorganic components (SiO2, Al2O3, inorganic sulfur). By optimizing the process parameters, the risk factor of HMs in the sludge decreased from 117.36 to 62.5 while obtaining high-quality syngas. The energy utilization efficiency of microwave pyrolysis also increased significantly from 11.20% to 82.01%. This work provided new insight into the efficient resource utilization and environmentally friendly treatment of sludge, and demonstrated that CMP technology has significant potential for future industrial applications as an alternative to traditional pyrolysis.

Cerium Oxide Nanoparticles with Entrapped Gadolinium for High T 1 Relaxivity and ROS-Scavenging Purposes.

Gadolinium chelates are employed worldwide today as clinical contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging. Until now, the commonly used linear contrast agents based on the rare-earth element gadolinium have been considered safe and well-tolerated. Recently, concerns regarding this type of contrast agent have been reported, which is why there is an urgent need to develop the next generation of stable contrast agents with enhanced spin–lattice relaxation, as measured by improved T1 relaxivity at lower doses. Here, we show that by the integration of gadolinium ions in cerium oxide nanoparticles, a stable crystalline 5 nm sized nanoparticulate system with a homogeneous gadolinium ion distribution is obtained. These cerium oxide nanoparticles with entrapped gadolinium deliver strong T1 relaxivity per gadolinium ion (T1 relaxivity, r1 = 12.0 mM–1 s–1) with the potential to act as scavengers of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The presence of Ce3+ sites and oxygen vacancies at the surface plays a critical role in providing the antioxidant properties. The characterization of radial distribution of Ce3+ and Ce4+ oxidation states indicated a higher concentration of Ce3+ at the nanoparticle surfaces. Additionally, we investigated the ROS-scavenging capabilities of pure gadolinium-containing cerium oxide nanoparticles by bioluminescent imaging in vivo, where inhibitory effects on ROS activity are shown.

Synthesis of Diazoquinones and Azidophenols via Diazo‐Transfer Reaction of Phenols

AbstractThe first efficient diazo‐transfer reaction of phenols is described. o‐Quinone diazides (diazoquinones) were prepared from phenols in high yields by the diazo‐transfer reaction using 2‐azido‐1,3‐bis(2,6‐diisopropylphenyl)imidazolium hexafluorophosphate (IPrAP, 2‐PF6), which is a safe and stable crystalline. The reaction efficiently proceeded in methanol in the presence of a base. Phenols substituted with electron‐donating groups reacted more smoothly than those having electron withdrawing groups. Reactive phenols were diazotized by IPrAP with iPr2NH as a base, and low reactive phenols were diazotized with N,N‐dimethyl‐4‐aminopyridine (DMAP). Furthermore, the formed diazoquinones reacted with sodium azide in 2‐methoxyethanol and afforded the corresponding azidophenol in high yields.

Control the greenhouse gas emission via mediating the dissimilatory iron reduction: Fulvic acid inhibit secondary mineralization of ferrihydrite

Reducing methane emission is of great importance to control the global greenhouse effect. Dissimilatory iron reduction (DIR) coupling of organic matter decomposition may suppress methane production via reducing primary electron donors available for methanogenesis. However, during DIR, the amorphous iron oxides (e.g., ferrihydrite) are easy to transform into more stable crystalline iron minerals, which slowdowns the rate of DIR. Humic substance (HS) with redox activity has been extensively reported to facilitate DIR via “electron shuttles” mechanism, yet little known about the effect of HS on mediating the mineralization of iron oxides and the subsequent influences on DIR and methanogenesis. To clarify this, ferrihydrite and fulvic acid (FA) (as the model substance of HS) were supplied to anaerobic methanogenesis systems. Results showed that FA could significantly decrease the formation of crystalline iron oxides, enhance DIR rate by 13.72% and suppress methanogenesis by 25.13% compared to ferrihydrite supplemented only. By X-ray absorption spectra analysis, it was found that FA could complex with ferrihydrite via forming a Fe-C/O structure on the second shell of Fe atom. Quantum chemical calculation further confirmed that FA reduced the adsorption energy between Fe(II) and ferrihydrite. Our study suggested that rational use of HS to mediate mineralization pathway of iron oxides could efficiently improve the availability of iron oxides to drive DIR and control the conversion of organics into CH4 in natural or engineered systems.

Exploration and tuning of Al2O3/Mo composite for enhancement of anti-corrosion and tribological characteristics in zinc phosphate conversion coatings

Recently, phosphate conversion coatings have been modified by transition/non-transition metal oxide with distinguished characteristic features such as corrosion resistance, wear resistance, lubrication and adhesion. The present paper explores the development of Al2O3/Mo composite incorporated zinc phosphate coatings on galvanized steel for achieving higher corrosion-resistant characteristics with an added advantage of tribological performance. Incorporation of Mo leads to the phase transformation from γ to α-Al2O3, which ensures the subsequent crystallization of alumina particles by the anisotropic grain growth of Mo content. Particle size, elemental composition and morphology of the Al2O3/Mo composite are tuned for retaining the stable crystalline alpha phase of the composite. The optimum concentration of the tuned content of Al2O3/Mo composite in the phosphating solution can effectively perform as an active nucleating source for the establishment of more compact, homogeneous and dense zinc phosphate crystal growth and coverage in the galvanized steel surface by significantly reducing the activation energy during the phosphating process. The resultant composite phosphate coating ensures the formation of a large quantity of crystalline hopeite rich phase compared to other coatings, which effectively acts as an insulator during the electrochemical reaction by imparting a corrosion-resistant barrier between the substrate and corrosive media. Uniform distribution of composite particles at the grain boundaries and at the bulk grain composition is also achieved. Lower average surface roughness (Sa), root mean square surface roughness (Sq), maximum height (St), surface skewness (Ssk) and higher surface kurtosis (Sku) values are acquired for better anti-corrosion properties with excellent tribological performance. The higher Rp and Rct values with lower Cdl and corrosion rate values of the tuned composition of Al2O3/Mo composite based zinc phosphate coating confirms the better porosity and thereby enhances the corrosion-resistant performance due to the sealing action of the composite.

Non-isothermal Crystallization Kinetics Behavior of Pure Low-density Polyethylene and Low-density Polyethylene/Styrene-butadiene Rubber Thermoplastic Vulcanizates

Low-density polyethylene (LDPE)/styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPV) were prepared by dynamic vulcanization, and the non-isothermal crystallization kinetics of the LDPE/SBR TPV and pure LDPE were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and the crystallization processes of LDPE/SBR TPV and pure LDPE were depicted by the Avrami, Ozawa and Mo equation models. The findings indicated that the crystallization behavior of both LDPE/SBR TPV and pure LDPE can be described by the Mo model and Avrami model modified by the Jeziorny correction, while the Ozawa model was not applicable to describe the behavior. Kinetic data analysis showed that LDPE/SBR TPV had higher crystallization onset temperature (T0), peak crystallization temperature (Tp), and more stable crystallinity compared to pure LDPE at the same cooling rate.

Exploring the governing transport mechanisms of corrosive agents in a Canadian deep geological repository

All nuclear energy producing nations face a common challenge associated with the long-term solution for their used nuclear fuel. After decades of research, many nuclear safety agencies worldwide agree that deep geological repositories (DGRs) are appropriate long-term solutions to protect the biosphere. The Canadian DGR is planned in either stable crystalline or sedimentary host rock (depending on the final site location) to house the used nuclear fuel in copper-coated used fuel containers (UFCs) surrounded by highly compacted bentonite. The copper-coating and bentonite provide robust protection against many corrosion processes anticipated in the DGR. However, it is possible that bisulfide (HS−) produced near the host rock-bentonite interface may transport through the bentonite and corrode the UFCs during the DGR design life (i.e., one million years); although container performance assessments typically account for this process, while maintaining container integrity. Because the DGR design life far exceeds those of practical experimentation, there is a need for robust numerical models to forecast HS− transport. In this paper we present the development of a coupled 3D thermal-hydraulic-chemical model to explore the impact of key coupled physics on HS− transport in the proposed Canadian DGR. These simulations reveal that, although saturation delayed and heating accelerated HS− transport over the first 100s and 10,000s of years, respectively, these times of influence were small compared to the long DGR design life. Consequently, the influence from heating only increased total projected HS− corrosion by <20% and the influence from saturation had a negligible impact (<1%). By comparing the corrosion rate results with a simplified model, it was shown that nearly-steady DGR design parameters governed most of the projected HS− corrosion. Therefore, those parameters need to be carefully resolved to reliably forecast the extent of HS− corrosion.

Construction of Pyrazine-Appended 1D and 3D Cobalt(II) Succinate Coordination Polymers: Influence of Solvent on Architectures and Applications in Gas Adsorption and NAC Detection.

An underexplored reaction of pyrazine (rigid and linear) and succinic acid (flexible) with Co(NO3)2·6H2O afforded four new coordination polymers (CPs): [Co(H2O)(pyz)(suc)] (1), [Co(H2O)2(pyz)(suc)] (2), [Co(H2O)4(pyz)](suc) (3) and [Co2(H2O)2(pyz)(suc)2] (4), as well as [Co(HCO2)2(pyz)] (5) being lately reported along with well-known 6 and 7. The CPs were obtained as stable crystalline materials and characterized by conventional solid-state techniques, including X-ray crystallography. Hydrothermally produced compounds 1 and 2 were both 3D CPs. While 3 and 4 obtained under ambient/solvothermal conditions in DMSO generated 1D and 3D structures, 5 isolated from DMF under solvothermal conditions had a 3D structure. The topologies of the coordination polymers 1–7 were described by underlying nets 3D 5-c fet, 3D 4-c cds, 1D 2-c 2C1, 3D 5-c bnn, 3D 6-c rob, 1D 2-c 2C1, and 3D 6-c pcu, respectively. The plot of χM–1 versus T was essentially linear in the entire temperature range following the Curie–Weiss law with a Curie constant (C) of 2.525 and a negative Weiss constant (ϕ) of −46.24 K, suggesting weak antiferromagnetic (AF) exchange interactions. CO2 and N2 adsorption studies of 1–5 featured type III isotherms. 1 was found to show remarkably higher quenching efficiencies for nitrophenols (η = 98% for o-NP) over other NACs. The Stern–Volmer plot exhibited deviation in linearity with Ksv values about 200 times greater than that for the simplest nitroaromatic compound (NB), signifying its exclusive quenching ability toward 1. The LOD for p-NP addition to 1 was found to be 0.995 ppm.

Continuous chemical redistribution following amorphous-to-crystalline structural ordering in a Zr-Cu-Al bulk metallic glass

• Crystallization kinetics of Zr 45.5 Cu 45.5 Al 9 bulk metallic glass was investigated. • Simultaneous DSC and SANS was applied to study in situ the crystallization process. • A three-stage structural evolution during crystallization was revealed. • Continuous chemical redistribution following structural ordering was observed. • A new feature, i.e., the transition region, was identified and discussed. Bulk metallic glasses (BMGs) are thermodynamically metastable. As such, crystallization occurs when a BMG is thermally annealed at a temperature above the glass transition temperature. While extensive studies have been performed on the crystallization kinetics of BMGs, most of them have focused on the amorphous-to-crystalline structural ordering, and little attention has been paid to chemical distribution and its relationship with the structural ordering during the crystallization process. In this paper, a new approach, with simultaneous differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and small angle neutron scattering (SANS) measurements, was applied to study in situ the crystallization of a Zr 45.5 Cu 45.5 Al 9 BMG upon isothermal annealing at a temperature in the supercooled liquid region. Quantitative analysis of the DSC and SANS data showed that the structural evolution during isothermal annealing could be classified into three stages: (I) incubation; (II) amorphous-to-crystalline structural ordering; (III) continuous chemical redistribution. This finding was validated by composition analysis with atom probe tomography (APT), which further identified a transition region formed by expelling Al into the matrix. The transition region, with a composition of (Cu,Al) 50 Zr 50 , served as an intermediate step facilitating the formation of a thermodynamically stable crystalline phase with a composition of (Cu,Al) 10 Zr 7 .

Crystallization and relaxation dynamics of glass-forming liquids at the Kauzmann temperature

If the entropy extrapolation of supercooled liquids (SCL) suggested by Kauzmann was correct, then they would have the same entropy as their stable crystalline phase at a certain low temperature, below the laboratory glass transition (Tg), known as the Kauzmann temperature (TK). Extrapolating even further, the liquid entropy would be null at a temperature above absolute zero, violating the Third Law of Thermodynamics and constituting a paradox. Several possibilities have been proposed over the past 70 years to solve this paradox with different degrees of success. Our objective here is to access liquid dynamics at deep supercoolings to test the so-called crystallization solution to the paradox. By comparing the relaxation and crystallization kinetics determined above Tg and extrapolated down to TK, a possible solution would be that the crystallization time is shorter than the relaxation time, which would mean that a SCL cannot reach the TK. In this case, the liquid stability limit or kinetic spinodal temperature (Tks) should be higher than TK. We tested two fragile glass-forming liquids (diopside and wollastonite) and two strong liquids (silica and germania). For the fragile substances, Tks ≫ TK, hence such a supercooled liquid cannot exist at TK, and the entropy crisis is averted. On the other hand, the results for the strong liquids were inconclusive. We hope the findings of this work encourage researchers to further investigate the liquid dynamics of different strong glass-forming systems at deep supercoolings.

Tetraphenylethene-Modified Colorimetric and Fluorescent Chemosensor for Hg2+ With Aggregation-Induced Emission Enhancement, Solvatochromic, and Mechanochromic Fluorescence Features.

A tetraphenylethene (TPE)-modified rhodanine derivative was successfully designed and prepared, and this luminophor showed intramolecular charge transfer nature from the TPE unit to the rhodanine-3-acetic acid unit. Interestingly, this luminogen not only exhibited typical aggregation-induced emission enhancement (AIEE) behavior but also showed good cell imaging performance. Remarkably, this AIEE-active TPE-containing rhodanine derivative possessed noticeable solvatochromic fluorescence effect involving multiple fluorescent colors of green, yellow-green, yellow, orange, and red. Meanwhile, this fluorescigenic compound displayed reversible mechanochromic fluorescence behavior based on the mutual transformation of between stable crystalline and metastable amorphous states. On the other hand, this multifunctional fluorophor could selectively and sensitively detect Hg2+ in an acetonitrile solution. Furthermore, this chemosensor could also be used to detect Hg2+ on test paper strips.

Rapid Cs+ Capture via Multiple Supramolecular Interactions in Anionic Metal-Organic Framework Isomers.

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) provide an ideal platform for ion exchange due to their high porosity and structural designability; however, developing MOFs that have the essential characteristics for ion exchange remains a challenge. These crucial features include fast kinetics, selectivity, and stability. We present two anionic isomers, DGIST-2 (2D) and DGIST-3 (3D), comprising distinctly arranged 5-(1,8-naphthalimido)isophthalate ligands and In3+ cations. Interestingly, in protic solvents, DGIST-2 transforms into a hydrolytically stable crystalline phase, DGIST-2'. DGIST-2' and DGIST-3 exhibit rapid Cs+ adsorption kinetics, as well as high Cs+ affinity in the presence of competing cations. The mechanism for rapid and selective sorption is explored based on the results of single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis of Cs+-incorporated DGIST-3. In Cs+-containing solutions, the loosely incorporated dimethylammonium countercation of the anionic framework is replaced by Cs+, which is held in the hydrophobic cavity by supramolecular ion-ion and cation-π interactions.

Urea-assisted hydrothermal synthesis of MnMoO4/MnCO3 hybrid electrochemical electrode and fabrication of high-performance asymmetric supercapacitor

• Electrochemical properties of MnMoO 4 /MnCO 3 is most favorable for supercapacitors. • Hybrid material showed superior performance to the increased urea concentration. • The hybrid material showed high specific capacitance and energy density. • The kinetic properties of the asymmetric supercapacitor were investigated. Transition metal molybdates/carbonates and hybrid nanomaterials have attracted great attention in energy storage applications because of their enriched redox activity, good electronic conductivity, and stable crystallinity. We synthesize a multicomponent MnMoO 4 /MnCO 3 hybrid by a one-step hydrothermal method with urea as the reaction fuel. By controlling only the urea concentration in the initial precursor solution, the MnMoO 4 /MnCO 3 molecular ratio is controlled effectively, which is found to have a profound effect on the electrochemical properties of the hybrid electrodes. The electrochemical measurements show that the specific capacitance of MnMoO 4 /MnCO 3 hybrid is 1311 F/g, the energy density of 116.8 Wh/kg, and power density of 383 W/kg at a current density of 1 A/g with 79% capacitance retention over 5000 cycles. The fabricated asymmetric supercapacitor device exhibits good energy storage performance, including the specific capacitance of 97 F/g along with the energy density of 26.5 Wh/kg and the power density of 657 W/kg at a current density of 1 A/g and good reversibility with capacitance retention of 85% after 2000 cycles and 70% over 5000 cycles. The increase in the energy density of 900% with a mere 60% decrement in the energy density indicates its potential superior applications in high-power devices.

Stable and efficient soft perovskite crystalline film based solar cells prepared with a facile encapsulation method.

The quasi Fermi level for electrons in a soft perovskite crystalline thin film and the contact qualities at the PCBM/perovskite and perovskite/P3CT-Na interfaces can be increased using a facile encapsulation method, which improves the device performance and stability of the resultant perovskite solar cells. In the encapsulated perovskite solar cells, the averaged open-circuit voltage (VOC) largely increases from 0.981 V to 1.090 V after 9 days mainly due to the increased quasi Fermi levels. Besides, the reflectance and photoluminescence (PL) spectra show improved contact qualities at the PCBM/perovskite and perovskite/P3CT-Na interfaces, which can be used to explain the increase in the short-circuit current density (JSC) from 21.68 mA cm-2 to 23.48 mA cm-2 after the encapsulation process. Besides, nanosecond time-resolved PL and temperature-dependent PL spectra can be used to explain the increased VOC, which is mainly due to the increased shallow defect density and thereby increasing the exciton binding energy of the encapsulated perovskite sample. It is noted that the averaged power conversion efficiency (PCE) slowly decreases from 18.24% to 16.52% within 45 days.

Facile Synthesis and Morphology‐Dependent Photocatalytic Activity of ZnO Nanostructures

AbstractThe structures of ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) of different morphology (rod, flower, and grains) using Zinc chloride and zinc nitrate synthesis are carried out under ambient conditions. In this investigation, we report that ZnO NPs are effectively synthesized and exploited to exhibit the morphological effect of ZnO NPS on its reduction in photocatalytic methylene blue (MB) dye‐degradation. UV–Visible spectra studies of the prepared ZnO NPs confirm the absorption peak at 377, 376.3, and 376 nm representative of the formation of ZnO NPs. Powder X‐ray diffraction (XRD) results demonstrate that the strong, highly intense, and narrow‐width diffraction peaks indicate the most stable crystalline hexagonal (Wurtzite) structure of ZnO NPs of rod, flower, and grains with average size about 20, 16.62, and 18.02 nm in diameter, respectively. According to field emission‐scanning electron microscopy (FE‐SEM), results confirm the development of ZnO NPs. In addition, the degradation efficiency of MB dye by ZnO (grain) reveals larger enhancement than the rod and flower with the highest adsorption of color after 0.067 min−1.This study offers the mainstep forward in the field of diluted wastewaters in textile industries.