Materials, Interfaces, and Electrochemical Phenomena

Fabrication and photocatalytic properties of novel ZnO/ZnAl2O4 nanocomposite with ZnAl2O4 dispersed inside ZnO network

  1. Xiaofei Zhao,
  2. Lei Wang,
  3. Xin Xu,
  4. Xiaodong Lei,
  5. Sailong Xu,
  6. Fazhi Zhang*

Article first published online: 22 MAR 2011

DOI: 10.1002/aic.12597

Issue

AIChE Journal

AIChE Journal

Volume 58, Issue 2, pages 573–582, February 2012

Additional Information

How to Cite

Zhao, X., Wang, L., Xu, X., Lei, X., Xu, S. and Zhang, F. (2012), Fabrication and photocatalytic properties of novel ZnO/ZnAl2O4 nanocomposite with ZnAl2O4 dispersed inside ZnO network. AIChE J., 58: 573–582. doi: 10.1002/aic.12597

Author Information

  1. State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China

*State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 6 JAN 2012
  2. Article first published online: 22 MAR 2011
  3. Accepted manuscript online: 25 FEB 2011 09:30AM EST
  4. Manuscript Revised: 15 FEB 2011
  5. Manuscript Received: 5 SEP 2010

Funded by

  • National Natural Science Foundation of China, the 973 Program. Grant Number: 2011CBA00506
  • New Century Excellent Talents in Universities. Grant Number: NCET-07-0055
  • Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities. Grant Number: ZZ0916

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Keywords:

  • photocatalysis;
  • heterojunction;
  • layered double hydroxides;
  • ZnO/ZnAl2O4 nanocomposites;
  • semiconductor

Abstract

Novel ZnO/ZnAl2O4 nanocomposites with ZnAl2O4 nanoparticles homogeneously dispersed inside a network of ZnO are fabricated by thermal treatment of a single-source precursor of ZnAl-layered double hydroxides (ZnAl-LDHs) at 800°C. The effects of the Zn/Al molar ratio of the LDH precursors on the structure, composition, morphology, textural as well as UV-absorbing properties and photocatalytic activities of the nanocomposites are investigated in detail. The results show that the ZnO/ZnAl2O4 nanocomposites derived from the ZnAl-LDHs precursors have superior photocatalytic performances to either single phase ZnO or similar ZnO/ZnAl2O4 samples fabricated by chemical coprecipitation or physical mixing method. The heterojunction nanostructure and the strong coupling between the ZnO and ZnAl2O4 phase derived from ZnAl-LDHs precursors are proposed to contribute the efficient spatial separation between the photo-generated electrons and holes, which can concomitantly improve the photocatalytic activities. © 2011 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2012

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