ZnO core-shell microspheres prepared by one-pot hydrothermal reaction and their photocatalysis properties

ZnO core-shell microspheres were fabricated by a facile one-pot hydrothermal method without any other surfactant or template. The structure, morphologies and properties of the as-prepared samples were determined using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and ultraviolet (UV) and visible absorption spectroscopy. Results showed that the zinc ions were first adsorbed onto the surface of a sucrose droplet or included in the droplet and then reacted with each other to form a ZnO crystal nucleus, which was followed by the growth and calcination steps to form ZnO core-shell microspheres. The photocatalytic characterisation revealed that ZnO core-shell microspheres behave high photocatalytic activity for methylene blue under UV light irradiation, and the degradation rate can reach to 97.64% in 210 min.