Influence of Growth Duration on Structure, Surface Properties, and Photocatalytic Activity of ZnO Nanostructures
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.7492/ytzsv662Keywords:
Zno Nanostructures, Photocatalysis, Co-Precipitation Method, Crystal Violet Dye, Morphology Control, Visible Light Degradation, Nanospindles, Wastewater TreatmentAbstract
Photocatalysis using metal oxide semiconductors has emerged as an effective and eco-friendly approach for the degradation of organic pollutants. In this study,
ZnO nanostructures with spindle-like morphology were synthesized via a simple and cost-effective co-precipitation method, where the morphology was controlled
by varying reaction time. The prepared ZnO nanospindles were characterized using XRD, FT-IR, SEM, and UV–Vis spectroscopy to investigate their structural,
morphological, and optical properties. XRD results confirmed the formation of a hexagonal quartzite structure, while SEM analysis revealed well-defined spindlelike nanostructures. BET analysis indicated that the surface area of the samples ranged between 15 and 30 m²/g, highlighting their porous nature. The photocatalytic
activity of the synthesized ZnO nanostructures was evaluated through the degradation of crystal violet dye under visible light irradiation. The results showed that
photocatalytic efficiency strongly depends on reaction time and morphology. The optimized sample exhibited a maximum degradation efficiency of 96% within
150 minutes, following pseudo-first-order kinetics. The enhanced performance is attributed to improved surface area and morphology control. This study
demonstrates that time-dependent morphological engineering of ZnO nanostructures is a promising strategy for efficient wastewater treatment applications.
