Large-scale synthesis of ZnO nanostructures by pulse electrochemical method and their photocatalytic properties

Abstract In this paper, we report a simple environment-friendly and large-scale approach to synthesis of highly crystalline zinc oxide nanostructures using pulse alternating current (PAC). The morphological results demonstrate flower-like architectures of nanoparticle-based and nanorod-based zinc oxide (ZnO-NPs and ZnO-NRs) obtained in KCl and NaCl as electrolytes. The photocatalytic activity of the obtained materials was performed in methylene blue dye degradation reaction under UV light irradiation. A high efficiency of ~ 90% within 60 min with excellent rate constant (k = 0.0386 min −1 ) was observed in the presence of ZnO-NPs synthesized in 2 M KCl which is attributed to the larger specific surface area (27 m 2  g −1 ), total pore volume and more defective structure.