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The flower-like and hexagonal flake-like ZnO microstructures were synthesised by a microwave method using ammonia water and sodium hydroxide as precipitant, respectively. The products were characterised by scanning electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and photoluminescence. The photocatalytic activity of the flower-like and hexagonal flake-like ZnO microstructures was evaluated by the degradation of methyl orange (MO) under ultraviolet (UV) light irradiation. The results indicated that the best flower-like ZnO microstructure was obtained when the experimental conditions were [Zn2+] = 0.025 mol l−1, [Zn2+]:[NH3·H2O] = 1:1.5, microwave power = 231 W. Under the same reaction conditions, hexagonal flake-like ZnO can be obtained by using sodium hydroxide as precipitant. The MO in aqueous solution was completely eliminated by flower-like ZnO after 120 min of UV light irradiation. Under identical conditions, the degradation of MO in aqueous solution was completely finished within 150 min in the presence of hexagonal flake-like ZnO. The flower-like ZnO sample showed an enhanced photocatalytic activity compared with the hexagonal flake-like ZnO for the MO degradation, which could be attributed to the presence of more active centres and hence can have more opportunities to contact with MO molecules.
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