Preparation of Zinc Oxide Nanorods Array and Its Application in Photocatalytic Degradation of Phenol Wastewater

ZnO nanorod arrays were prepared by the hydrothermal synthesis. SEM images were used to observe the morphologies of ZnO nanorod arrays. The phase structures of ZnO nanorod arrays were characterized by means of XRD. The phenol wastewater was degraded with ZnO nanorod as catalyst. The effects of UV light application time and ZnO nanorod catalyst quantity on phenol removal efficiency were investigated. The results show that the phenol removal efficiency is as high as 70.12% when 5.7 mg ZnO nanorod catalyst is added, pH is 7.3, and UV light application time is 2 h. The ZnO nanorod arrays prepared under the action of pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) have greater order than that prepared by conversional hydrothermal synthesis. The catalytic performance of ZnO nanorod arrays prepared with PEMF is better accordingly.