Microwave synthesis of the flower-like ZnO microstructures and their photocatalytic property

A quick and facile microwave-assisted reaction is used to synthesize flower-like ZnO microstructures in the existence of hexadecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB). X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques reveal the samples are composed of many rods with a hexagonal wurtzite structure. The optical properties of as-prepared ZnO microstructures were investigated by ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy and photoluminescence spectroscopy. The photocatalytic activity was evaluated by using the photodegradation of methylene orange (MO) dye under UV irradiation. Furthermore, the photodegradation mechanism of the as-prepared sample is also briefly discussed.