Evaluation of the Photocatalytic Activity of Distinctive-Shaped ZnO Nanocrystals Synthesized Using Latex of Different Plants Native to the Amazon Rainforest
Robert S. Matos,
John M. Attah-Baah,
Michael D. S. Monteiro,
Benilde F. O. Costa,
Marcelo A. Mâcedo,
Simone P. A. Da Paz,
Rômulo S. Angélica,
Tiago M. de Souza,
Ştefan Ţălu,
Rosane M. P. B. Oliveira,
Nilson S. Ferreira
Affiliations
Robert S. Matos
Postgraduate Program in Materials Science and Engineering (P2CEM), Federal University of Sergipe, São Cristovão 49100-000, SE, Brazil
John M. Attah-Baah
Laboratory of Corrosion and Nanotechnology (LCNT), Federal University of Sergipe, São Cristovão 49100-000, SE, Brazil
Michael D. S. Monteiro
Laboratory of Corrosion and Nanotechnology (LCNT), Federal University of Sergipe, São Cristovão 49100-000, SE, Brazil
Benilde F. O. Costa
University of Coimbra, CFisUC, Department of Physics, P-3004-516 Coimbra, Portugal
Marcelo A. Mâcedo
Laboratory of Corrosion and Nanotechnology (LCNT), Federal University of Sergipe, São Cristovão 49100-000, SE, Brazil
Simone P. A. Da Paz
Institute of Geosciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém 66075-110, PA, Brazil
Rômulo S. Angélica
Institute of Geosciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém 66075-110, PA, Brazil
Tiago M. de Souza
Núcleo de Engenharia de Materiais Sustentáveis (NEMaS), Universidade do Estado do Amapá, Macapá 68900-070, AP, Brazil
Ştefan Ţălu
The Directorate of Research, Development and Innovation Management (DMCDI), Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, 15 Constantin Daicoviciu St., 400020 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Rosane M. P. B. Oliveira
Postgraduate Program in Materials Science and Engineering (P2CEM), Federal University of Sergipe, São Cristovão 49100-000, SE, Brazil
Nilson S. Ferreira
Laboratory of Corrosion and Nanotechnology (LCNT), Federal University of Sergipe, São Cristovão 49100-000, SE, Brazil
ZnO nanocrystals with three different morphologies have been synthesized via a simple sol-gel-based method using Brosimum parinarioides (bitter Amapá) and Parahancornia amapa (sweet Amapá) latex as chelating agents. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and electron diffraction patterns (SAED) patterns showed the ZnO nanocrystals were a pure hexagonal wurtzite phase of ZnO. XRD-based spherical harmonics predictions and HRTEM images depicted that the nanocrystallites constitute pitanga-like (~15.8 nm), teetotum-like (~16.8 nm), and cambuci-like (~22.2 nm) shapes for the samples synthesized using bitter Amapá, sweet Amapá, and bitter/sweet Amapá chelating agent, respectively. The band gap luminescence was observed at ~2.67–2.79 eV along with several structural defect-related, blue emissions at 468–474 nm (VO, VZn, Zni), green emissions positioned at 513.89–515.89 (h-VO+), and orange emission at 600.78 nm (VO+–VO++). The best MB dye removal efficiency (85%) was mainly ascribed to the unique shape and oxygen vacancy defects found in the teetotum-like ZnO nanocrystals. Thus, the bitter Amapá and sweet Amapá latex are effective chelating agents for synthesizing distinctive-shaped ZnO nanocrystals with highly defective and remarkable photocatalytic activity.
