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Controllable synthesis of ZnO nanoflowers by the modified sol–gel method

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Abstract

In the present study, flower-like and semi-spherical ZnO nanoparticles have been successfully synthesized by the modified sol–gel method using zinc nitrate (Zn (NO3)2·6H2O) as a Zn2+ source and triethanolamine, (C6H15O3N and citric acid (C6H8O7) as chelating and gel agent, respectively. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy and photoluminescence techniques. The XRD results revealed the hexagonal wurtzite structure were obtained for all the samples. Then, the photocatalytic activity of ZnO nanoparticles was examined for the degradation of methyl blue and methyl orange, methylene red solutions.

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Acknowledgments

The author should thank from Isfahan University of Technology for financial support of this project.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, 84146-83111, Islamic Republic of Iran

    Seyedeh Fatemeh Mousavi & Fatemeh Davar

  2. Department of Materials Engineering, Malek Ashtar University of Technology, 83145/115, Shahin Shahr, Isfahan, Islamic Republic of Iran

    M. R. Loghman-Estarki

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  1. Seyedeh Fatemeh Mousavi
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Correspondence to Fatemeh Davar.

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Mousavi, S.F., Davar, F. & Loghman-Estarki, M.R. Controllable synthesis of ZnO nanoflowers by the modified sol–gel method. J Mater Sci: Mater Electron 27, 12985–12995 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-016-5437-x

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