Facile synthesis of ZnO particles via benzene-assisted co-solvothermal method with different alcohols and its application

Abstract

In this study, ZnO particles with different morphologies were synthesized by a novel co-solvothermal method using benzene. The prepared samples were characterized by Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) measurements, X-ray diffractometry (XRD), scanning electron microscopy coupled with an energy dispersive X-ray detector (SEM-EDX), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), X-ray photoelectron spectrometry (XPS), and H₂-temperature programmed reduction (H₂-TPR). The results showed that the molecular sizes and carbon numbers of the alcohols used in the reaction and the addition of benzene had a great effect on the morphologies, textural properties, and crystalline structures of the material products in our reaction system. Different ZnO morphologies, such as spherical coral-like, carnation-like, rose-like, and plate-like structures, were obtained using methanol, ethanol, propanol, and butanol, respectively. Moreover, Cu particles loaded on ZnO with different morphologies were also investigated for the hydrogenation of CO₂ to CH₃OH. High catalytic activity and selectivity (82.8%) for CH₃OH formation were obtained using ZnO prepared from methanol with Cu doping (Cu/ZnO–Me).