Structural, Optical and Photocatalytic Properties of Cu2+ Doped ZnO Nanorods with Using HMTA Solvent Prepared by Hydrothermal Method

In this experiment, Cu2+ doped ZnO (Cu-ZnO) nanorods materials have been fabricated by hydrothermal method. Cu2+ ions were doped into ZnO with ratios of 2, 5 and 7 mol.% (compared to the mole’s number of Zn2+). The hexamethylenetetramine (HMTA) solvent used for the fabrication of Cu-ZnO nanorods with the mole ratio of Zn2+:HMTA = 1:4. The characteristics of the materials were analyzed by techniques, such as XRD, Raman shift, SEM and UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS). The photocatalytic properties of the materials were investigated by the decomposition of the methylene blue (MB) dye solution under ultraviolet light. The results show that the size of Cu-ZnO nanorods was reduced when the Cu2+ doping ratio increased from 2 mol.% to 7 mol.%. The decomposition efficiency of the MB dye solution reached 92% - 97%, corresponding to the Cu2+ doping ratio changed from 2 - 7 mol.% (after 40 minutes of ultraviolet irradiation). The highest efficiency for the decomposition of the MB solution was obtained at a Cu2+ doping ratio of 2 mol.%.

Synthesis and Room Temperature Ferromagnetism of Flower-shaped Mn Doped ZnO Nanostructures

Large-scale flower-shaped Mn doped ZnO nanostructures have been grown on silicon substrates by simple thermal evaporation at atmospheric pressure.The flower-shaped nanostructure makes up of many nanorods,which are rooted in one center.Analysis of X-ray diffraction,high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and Raman spectra results reveal that the products are of single phase with wurtzite structure.Elemental mapping results show that no impurity clusters exist in the doped materials.The photoluminescence spectra demonstrate that many oxygen vacancies exist in the doped materials,and the crystal quality is improved and the content of oxygen vacancies is decreased by annealing treatment.The flower-shaped Mn doped ZnO nanostructures exhibit ferromagnetic ordering above room temperature,and its magnetization is decreased by the annealing treatment,which indicates that the magnetic behavior of the doped materials may be related to the interaction between Mn doping and the oxygen vacancies.