High Degradation Activity and Quantity Production of Aluminum-Doped Zinc Oxide Nanocrystals Modified by Nitrogen Atoms

The precursor of aluminum-doped zinc oxide nanocrystals modified by nitrogen atoms (N-AZO) can be quantity-produced by ultrasonic–hydrothermal equipment. Then the N-AZO photocatalysts with good visible-light response were synthesized via solid-phase method with urea as a nitrogen source. The ultraviolet visible (UV–vis) patterns of N-AZO nanocrystals obviously showed a red shift toward the visible-light region compared to pure aluminum-doped zinc oxide (AZO) nanocrystals and an absorbance in the wavelength range of 450–600 nm which was attributed to the change of lattice structure after nitrogen doping. The photocatalytic activity of N-AZO photocatalysts were investigated by the degradation of RhB solution in sunlight irradiation. The ratio of nitrogen atoms to Zn atoms had significant impact on the photocatalytic efficiency of N-AZO nanocrystals. The experimental results showed that the optimal doping mole ratio of urea molecules to zinc atoms was 6:5, and the RhB dyes were degradated completely within 2...