ZnO/clay nanoarchitectures: Synthesis, characterization and evaluation as photocatalysts

In this work, ZnO-clay heterostructured materials have been prepared as novel nanoarchitectures by generation of ZnO nanoparticles (NP) on the surface of the clay mineral. The synthetic approach implies previous modification of the clay minerals by cation exchange with cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) solutions. So, these organophilic solids can be easily dispersed in 2-propanol being further incorporated ZnO nanoparticles (NP), which in turn are formed from reaction of zinc acetate with KOH solution. Once this sol–gel reaction is achieved, the intermediate ZnO/clay organo-heterostructures can be submitted to a thermal treatment for the removal of the organic matter, which finally gives rise to the ZnO/clay nanoarchitectures. The resulting materials were characterized by XRD, FE-SEM, TEM, UV–vis, FTIR, TG and DTA, specific surface area and porosity determinations. These techniques clearly shown the structural and textural arrangements produced during the formation of the ZnO/clay nanoarchitectures. This novel type of materials act as efficient heterogeneous photocatalysts showing higher yield in the photocatalytic decomposition of methylene blue (MB) dye in water than the corresponding ZnO powder without clay prepared under similar experimental conditions.