Green hydrothermal synthesis of ZnO nanotubes for photocatalytic degradation of methylparaben

Abstract A green hydrothermal method was proposed for the synthesis of ZnO nanotubes (NTs) using ZnO powder and 30 vol% H 2 O 2 aqueous solution as the starting materials. The as-prepared ZnO NTs with diameter around 10 nm and wall thickness of 3–5 nm were formed by scrolling of layer nanosheet. A possible formation mechanism was proposed. By utilizing the as-prepared ZnO NTs as photocatalysts, significant photocatalytic degradation was observed towards endocrine disrupting chemical (EDC) methylparaben under UV irradiation. The superior photocatalytic degradation of methylparaben was owing to the unique tubular structure and large surface area of prepared ZnO NTs, which might enhance the electron and hole separation and might lead to the formation of a large amount of reactive radicals.