Cation-induced structural/morphological control of ZnO under alkaline hydrothermal conditions: Influence on photocatalytic activity

This study investigates the hydrothermal synthesis of ZnO nanopowders using three different alkaline reagents: KOH, NaOH, and NH<inf>4</inf>OH, focusing on their morphological, structural, and photocatalytic properties. The resulting ZnO powders displayed distinct morphologies − from hex...

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Authors: Kuzmanović, Bojana, Vujković, Milica, Mamula, Bojana Paskaš, Ilić, Mirjana Medić, Batalović, Katarina, Martínez Perea, Benjamín, Tomić, Nataša
Format: article
Status:Versión aceptada para publicación
Publication Date:2025
Country:España
Institution:Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)
Repository:DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC
OAI Identifier:oai:digital.csic.es:10261/418905
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/10261/418905
https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/105020429143
Access Level:Embargoed access
Keyword:Alkaline cations
Crystal growth
Photocatalysis
ZnO nanoparticles
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dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Cation-induced structural/morphological control of ZnO under alkaline hydrothermal conditions: Influence on photocatalytic activity
title Cation-induced structural/morphological control of ZnO under alkaline hydrothermal conditions: Influence on photocatalytic activity
spellingShingle Cation-induced structural/morphological control of ZnO under alkaline hydrothermal conditions: Influence on photocatalytic activity
Kuzmanović, Bojana
Alkaline cations
Crystal growth
Photocatalysis
ZnO nanoparticles
title_short Cation-induced structural/morphological control of ZnO under alkaline hydrothermal conditions: Influence on photocatalytic activity
title_full Cation-induced structural/morphological control of ZnO under alkaline hydrothermal conditions: Influence on photocatalytic activity
title_fullStr Cation-induced structural/morphological control of ZnO under alkaline hydrothermal conditions: Influence on photocatalytic activity
title_full_unstemmed Cation-induced structural/morphological control of ZnO under alkaline hydrothermal conditions: Influence on photocatalytic activity
title_sort Cation-induced structural/morphological control of ZnO under alkaline hydrothermal conditions: Influence on photocatalytic activity
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Kuzmanović, Bojana
Vujković, Milica
Mamula, Bojana Paskaš
Ilić, Mirjana Medić
Batalović, Katarina
Martínez Perea, Benjamín
Tomić, Nataša
author Kuzmanović, Bojana
author_facet Kuzmanović, Bojana
Vujković, Milica
Mamula, Bojana Paskaš
Ilić, Mirjana Medić
Batalović, Katarina
Martínez Perea, Benjamín
Tomić, Nataša
author_role author
author2 Vujković, Milica
Mamula, Bojana Paskaš
Ilić, Mirjana Medić
Batalović, Katarina
Martínez Perea, Benjamín
Tomić, Nataša
author2_role author
author
author
author
author
author
dc.contributor.none.fl_str_mv Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovation (Serbia)
Science Fund of the Republic of Serbia
European Commission
Agencia Estatal de Investigación (España)
Kuzmanović, Bojana [0000-0002-0602-6960]
Mamula, Bojana Paskaš [0000-0002-7024-1526]
Ilić, Mirjana Medić [0000-0001-5802-808X]
Martínez Perea, Benjamín [0000-0001-9879-7748]
Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas [https://ror.org/02gfc7t72]
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv Alkaline cations
Crystal growth
Photocatalysis
ZnO nanoparticles
topic Alkaline cations
Crystal growth
Photocatalysis
ZnO nanoparticles
description This study investigates the hydrothermal synthesis of ZnO nanopowders using three different alkaline reagents: KOH, NaOH, and NH<inf>4</inf>OH, focusing on their morphological, structural, and photocatalytic properties. The resulting ZnO powders displayed distinct morphologies − from hexagonal rods and prismatic structures to a 3D butterfly-nebula-like morphology − depending on the base employed. Phase purity and structural characteristics were confirmed via X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectroscopy, while scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM/TEM) revealed significant morphological differences at multiple magnifications. When hydrothermally produced using KOH and NaOH, ZnO crystallizes into hexagonal prismatic rods along the [0001] direction, starting from a zinc hydroxide precipitate. However, its transition to Zn ammine complex occurs by replacing K<sup>+</sup>or Na<sup>+</sup>with NH<inf>4</inf><sup>+</sup>ions during hydrothermal reaction, which changes the preferential crystal growth, favoring the lateral direction. As a result, ZnO nanostructures with a 3D butterfly-nebula-like morphology are formed. This alteration influences the photocatalytic activity, which is assessed by monitoring the degradation of Reactive Orange 16 (RO16) dye under UV irradiation. The ZnO nanopowder synthesized using NaOH exhibited the highest photocatalytic efficiency, achieving complete degradation of the dye within 90 min. The sample prepared with KOH showed a faster degradation rate than the one synthesized with NH<inf>4</inf>OH, but still lower than that of the NaOH-based sample. These findings highlight the crucial influence of base selection during hydrothermal synthesis on the morphology, crystallite size, and photocatalytic behavior of ZnO nanostructures, providing insights for the design of more efficient materials for environmental remediation applications.
publishDate 2025
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2025
2026
2026
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/article
http://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501
Postprint
info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersion
format article
status_str acceptedVersion
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv http://hdl.handle.net/10261/418905
https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/105020429143
url http://hdl.handle.net/10261/418905
https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/105020429143
dc.language.none.fl_str_mv Inglés
language_invalid_str_mv Inglés
dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv #PLACEHOLDER_PARENT_METADATA_VALUE#
#PLACEHOLDER_PARENT_METADATA_VALUE#
info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/EC/H2020/101007417
info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/AEI/Plan Estatal de investigación Científica y Técnica y de Innovación 2021-2023/CEX2023-001263-S
Ceramics International
http://doi.org/10.1016/j.ceramint.2025.09.347
Sí
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eu_rights_str_mv embargoedAccess
dc.publisher.none.fl_str_mv Elsevier
publisher.none.fl_str_mv Elsevier
dc.source.none.fl_str_mv reponame:DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC
instname:Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)
instname_str Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)
reponame_str DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC
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repository.name.fl_str_mv
repository.mail.fl_str_mv
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spelling Cation-induced structural/morphological control of ZnO under alkaline hydrothermal conditions: Influence on photocatalytic activityKuzmanović, BojanaVujković, MilicaMamula, Bojana PaskašIlić, Mirjana MedićBatalović, KatarinaMartínez Perea, BenjamínTomić, NatašaAlkaline cationsCrystal growthPhotocatalysisZnO nanoparticlesThis study investigates the hydrothermal synthesis of ZnO nanopowders using three different alkaline reagents: KOH, NaOH, and NH<inf>4</inf>OH, focusing on their morphological, structural, and photocatalytic properties. The resulting ZnO powders displayed distinct morphologies − from hexagonal rods and prismatic structures to a 3D butterfly-nebula-like morphology − depending on the base employed. Phase purity and structural characteristics were confirmed via X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectroscopy, while scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM/TEM) revealed significant morphological differences at multiple magnifications. When hydrothermally produced using KOH and NaOH, ZnO crystallizes into hexagonal prismatic rods along the [0001] direction, starting from a zinc hydroxide precipitate. However, its transition to Zn ammine complex occurs by replacing K<sup>+</sup>or Na<sup>+</sup>with NH<inf>4</inf><sup>+</sup>ions during hydrothermal reaction, which changes the preferential crystal growth, favoring the lateral direction. As a result, ZnO nanostructures with a 3D butterfly-nebula-like morphology are formed. This alteration influences the photocatalytic activity, which is assessed by monitoring the degradation of Reactive Orange 16 (RO16) dye under UV irradiation. The ZnO nanopowder synthesized using NaOH exhibited the highest photocatalytic efficiency, achieving complete degradation of the dye within 90 min. The sample prepared with KOH showed a faster degradation rate than the one synthesized with NH<inf>4</inf>OH, but still lower than that of the NaOH-based sample. These findings highlight the crucial influence of base selection during hydrothermal synthesis on the morphology, crystallite size, and photocatalytic behavior of ZnO nanostructures, providing insights for the design of more efficient materials for environmental remediation applications.This research was supported by funding through grant number 451-03-136/2025-03/200017 provided by the Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovation of the Republic of Serbia. This research was supported by the Science Fund of the Republic of Serbia, Grant No. 372, Harnessing Machine Learning for Green Energy Materials: Insights into Mxene/Polyaniline Composite Surface – GEMComp. This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 101007417 having benefited from the access provided by Institute of Material Science of Barcelona in Barcelona within the framework of the NFFA–Europe Pilot Transnational Access Activity, proposal ID543. We sincerely thank Dr. Mirjana Novaković for her generous assistance with the additional electron microscopy measurements, careful analysis of the results, and valuable advice, which greatly contributed to the quality of this work. We also wish to express our gratitude to Dr. Miloš Milović and Dr. Dragana Jugović for their helpful discussions and valuable advice.With funding from the Spanish government through the ‘Severo Ochoa Centre of Excellence’ accreditation (CEX2023-001263-S).Peer reviewedElsevierMinistry of Science, Technological Development and Innovation (Serbia)Science Fund of the Republic of SerbiaEuropean CommissionAgencia Estatal de Investigación (España)Kuzmanović, Bojana [0000-0002-0602-6960]Mamula, Bojana Paskaš [0000-0002-7024-1526]Ilić, Mirjana Medić [0000-0001-5802-808X]Martínez Perea, Benjamín [0000-0001-9879-7748]Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas [https://ror.org/02gfc7t72]202620262025info:eu-repo/semantics/articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501Postprintinfo:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersionhttp://hdl.handle.net/10261/418905https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/105020429143reponame:DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSICinstname:Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)Inglés#PLACEHOLDER_PARENT_METADATA_VALUE##PLACEHOLDER_PARENT_METADATA_VALUE#info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/EC/H2020/101007417info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/AEI/Plan Estatal de investigación Científica y Técnica y de Innovación 2021-2023/CEX2023-001263-SCeramics Internationalhttp://doi.org/10.1016/j.ceramint.2025.09.347Síinfo:eu-repo/semantics/embargoedAccessoai:digital.csic.es:10261/4189052026-05-22T06:33:51Z
score 15,81155

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