Synthesis of Ni2+–Al3+–LDHs with flower-like morphology assembled from an ultrathin platelets structure: Phenomenon of enhanced photocatalytic performance
Rui Dang,
Mengjiao Ren,
Huiming Zhao,
Wei Guo,
Xiang-Rong Ma,
Yu-Hong Kang,
Yong Gao,
Shiqing Bi,
Wenwen Gao,
Hua-Rui Hao,
Rui Bai,
Zhi-Fang Zhang,
Ya-Jun Ma
Affiliations
Rui Dang
Shaanxi Laboratory for the Utilization of Clean Low Metamorphic Coal, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering School, Yulin University, Yulin, Shaanxi 71900, China
Mengjiao Ren
Shaanxi Laboratory for the Utilization of Clean Low Metamorphic Coal, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering School, Yulin University, Yulin, Shaanxi 71900, China
Huiming Zhao
Shaanxi Laboratory for the Utilization of Clean Low Metamorphic Coal, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering School, Yulin University, Yulin, Shaanxi 71900, China
Wei Guo
Shaanxi Laboratory for the Utilization of Clean Low Metamorphic Coal, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering School, Yulin University, Yulin, Shaanxi 71900, China
Xiang-Rong Ma
Shaanxi Laboratory for the Utilization of Clean Low Metamorphic Coal, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering School, Yulin University, Yulin, Shaanxi 71900, China
Yu-Hong Kang
Shaanxi Laboratory for the Utilization of Clean Low Metamorphic Coal, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering School, Yulin University, Yulin, Shaanxi 71900, China
Yong Gao
Shaanxi Laboratory for the Utilization of Clean Low Metamorphic Coal, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering School, Yulin University, Yulin, Shaanxi 71900, China
Shiqing Bi
Shaanxi Laboratory for the Utilization of Clean Low Metamorphic Coal, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering School, Yulin University, Yulin, Shaanxi 71900, China
Wenwen Gao
Shaanxi Laboratory for the Utilization of Clean Low Metamorphic Coal, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering School, Yulin University, Yulin, Shaanxi 71900, China
Hua-Rui Hao
Shaanxi Laboratory for the Utilization of Clean Low Metamorphic Coal, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering School, Yulin University, Yulin, Shaanxi 71900, China
Rui Bai
Shaanxi Laboratory for the Utilization of Clean Low Metamorphic Coal, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering School, Yulin University, Yulin, Shaanxi 71900, China
Zhi-Fang Zhang
Shaanxi Laboratory for the Utilization of Clean Low Metamorphic Coal, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering School, Yulin University, Yulin, Shaanxi 71900, China
Ya-Jun Ma
Shaanxi Laboratory for the Utilization of Clean Low Metamorphic Coal, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering School, Yulin University, Yulin, Shaanxi 71900, China
This study was initiated to explore a method for producing higher photocatalytic performance in layered double hydroxides (LDHs) through the preparation of ultrathin nanosheets, which would generate higher surface area (SA). Herein, a method is detailed for fabricating Ni2+-Al3+-LDHs with flower-like morphology assembled from an ultrathin nanosheet (Ni2+-Al3+-LDHs-U) employing a low temperature-reflux method together with a surfactant. The resulting products’ structures, morphologies, porous properties, and bandgaps were investigated using a series of characterization techniques, which confirmed the formation of Ni2+-Al3+-LDHs-U with an ultrathin nanosheet structure (4–8 nm) and large SA (151 m2/g), which were nearly three times greater than the Ni2+-Al3+-LDHs comprising a thick nanosheet structure (50 nm, Ni2+-Al3+-LDHs-T). In addition, the bandgaps of these new Ni2+-Al3+-LDHs-U materials were 5.11 electron volts lower than the Ni2+-Al3+-LDHs-T material (5.26 eV). These flower-like morphology assembled from an ultrathin nanosheet exhibited a greatly enhanced light response that utterly decomposed methyl orange and Rhodamine B in water, which represented far better photodegradation under similar conditions compared to the thicker Ni2+-Al3+-LDHs-T and thicker Ni2+-Fe3+-LDHs-T. The increased photoreaction efficiency was explained by higher SA and catalytically active sites of the experimental product.
