Tailoring crystal quality in ZnO nanomaterials for enhanced photocatalyic performances toward removals organic pollutants for environmental protection

Tailoring crystal quality in ZnO nanomaterials for enhanced photocatalyic performances toward removals organic pollutants for environmental protection | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Tailoring crystal quality in ZnO nanomaterials for enhanced photocatalyic performances toward removals organic pollutants for environmental protection Qi Liang, Weifeng Wu, Huajie Xu This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-8307917/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Published Journal Publication published 03 Apr, 2026 Read the published version in Journal of Nanoparticle Research → Version 1 posted 10 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract In this work, the crystal quality tailored in ZnO nanomaterials that manipulated defects in related properties, which are helpful in enhancing the photocatalytic performance. ZnO nanomaterials have been successfully prepared by one-step hydrothermal method using only zinc acetate as the raw material for the efficient removal of methyl blue and tetracycline under simulated sunlight irradiation. The XRD results indicated that the ZnO-2 sample has the smallest micro-stress and the lowest dislocation density, and it possesses the highest crystal quality. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) results indicated that the addition amount of zinc acetate and nitrogen doping directly affect the morphology and crystal quality of ZnO nanomaterials. The photoluminescence (PL) spectra studies indicated that the high crystal quality and uniform morphology promote the effective separation of photogenerated charge carriers. The influence of crystal quality on the photocatalytic degradation efficiency of ZnO nanomaterials was systematically studied. Evaluation of photocatalytic activity against methylene blue and tetracycline demonstrated superior performance of ZnO-2 catalyst, which was contributed to the high charge separation efficiency due to its higher crystal quality and uniform morphology. Notably, under 30 minutes simulated sunlight exposure, the photodegradation efficiency of 10mg/L methyl blue by the 50mg ZnO-2 sample reached 99.2%. under 40 minutes simulated sunlight exposure, the photodegradation efficiency of 20mg/L tetracycline by the 50mg ZnO-2 sample reached 93.4%. Quenching tests proved that the hydroxyl radical (•OH) and the superoxide radical ( \(\:{\text{O}}_{2}^{{\bullet\:}-}\) ) played main role in the photodegradation of methylene blue and tetracycline under simulated sunlight irradiation. This research underscores the potential of ZnO-2 as a promising photocatalyst, offering stability, reusability, and effective utilization of sunlight for catalytic processes. ZnO nanomaterials crystal quality tailoring simulated sunlight-driven photodegradation removal of organic pollutants environmental protection Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Published Journal Publication published 03 Apr, 2026 Read the published version in Journal of Nanoparticle Research → Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Revision requested 10 Feb, 2026 Reviews received at journal 02 Feb, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 27 Jan, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 26 Jan, 2026 Reviews received at journal 20 Jan, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 19 Jan, 2026 Reviewers invited by journal 19 Jan, 2026 Editor assigned by journal 11 Dec, 2025 Submission checks completed at journal 09 Dec, 2025 First submitted to journal 08 Dec, 2025 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-8307917","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":577248151,"identity":"260958cd-81f1-4633-85bb-e559dfabc84b","order_by":0,"name":"Qi 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Hybrid","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":false},"keywords":"ZnO nanomaterials, crystal quality tailoring, simulated sunlight-driven photodegradation, removal of organic pollutants, environmental protection","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8307917/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-8307917/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eIn this work, the crystal quality tailored in ZnO nanomaterials that manipulated defects in related properties, which are helpful in enhancing the photocatalytic performance. ZnO nanomaterials have been successfully prepared by one-step hydrothermal method using only zinc acetate as the raw material for the efficient removal of methyl blue and tetracycline under simulated sunlight irradiation. The XRD results indicated that the ZnO-2 sample has the smallest micro-stress and the lowest dislocation density, and it possesses the highest crystal quality. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) results indicated that the addition amount of zinc acetate and nitrogen doping directly affect the morphology and crystal quality of ZnO nanomaterials. The photoluminescence (PL) spectra studies indicated that the high crystal quality and uniform morphology promote the effective separation of photogenerated charge carriers. The influence of crystal quality on the photocatalytic degradation efficiency of ZnO nanomaterials was systematically studied. Evaluation of photocatalytic activity against methylene blue and tetracycline demonstrated superior performance of ZnO-2 catalyst, which was contributed to the high charge separation efficiency due to its higher crystal quality and uniform morphology. Notably, under 30 minutes simulated sunlight exposure, the photodegradation efficiency of 10mg/L methyl blue by the 50mg ZnO-2 sample reached 99.2%. under 40 minutes simulated sunlight exposure, the photodegradation efficiency of 20mg/L tetracycline by the 50mg ZnO-2 sample reached 93.4%. Quenching tests proved that the hydroxyl radical (\u0026bull;OH) and the superoxide radical (\u003cspan class=\"InlineEquation\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"mathinline\"\u003e\\(\\:{\\text{O}}_{2}^{{\\bullet\\:}-}\\)\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e) played main role in the photodegradation of methylene blue and tetracycline under simulated sunlight irradiation. This research underscores the potential of ZnO-2 as a promising photocatalyst, offering stability, reusability, and effective utilization of sunlight for catalytic processes.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Tailoring crystal quality in ZnO nanomaterials for enhanced photocatalyic performances toward removals organic pollutants for environmental protection","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2026-01-21 12:18:28","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8307917/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0},{"type":"decision","content":"Revision requested","date":"2026-02-10T05:22:42+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2026-02-03T00:58:14+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"286877660214239287584818466418339360436","date":"2026-01-27T11:04:06+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"313352530023692628851754712763888484060","date":"2026-01-26T15:18:46+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2026-01-20T06:07:33+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"176015026279921002487087835835463153974","date":"2026-01-19T12:55:46+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewersInvited","content":"","date":"2026-01-19T10:53:57+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorAssigned","content":"","date":"2025-12-11T21:18:44+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"checksComplete","content":"","date":"2025-12-09T08:54:50+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"submitted","content":"Journal of Nanoparticle Research","date":"2025-12-08T12:38:06+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"journal-of-nanoparticle-research","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"nano","sideBox":"Learn more about [Journal of Nanoparticle Research](http://link.springer.com/journal/11051)","snPcode":"11051","submissionUrl":"https://submission.nature.com/new-submission/11051/3","title":"Journal of Nanoparticle Research","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"stoa","reportingPortfolio":"Springer Hybrid","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":false}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"2d1228a5-316a-4440-b613-4be7ba4ae895","owner":[],"postedDate":"January 21st, 2026","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"published-in-journal","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2026-04-07T16:03:43+00:00","versionOfRecord":{"articleIdentity":"rs-8307917","link":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-026-06629-7","journal":{"identity":"journal-of-nanoparticle-research","isVorOnly":false,"title":"Journal of Nanoparticle Research"},"publishedOn":"2026-04-03 16:00:13","publishedOnDateReadable":"April 3rd, 2026"},"versionCreatedAt":"2026-01-21 12:18:28","video":"","vorDoi":"10.1007/s11051-026-06629-7","vorDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-026-06629-7","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-8307917","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-8307917","identity":"rs-8307917","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"XKTyCvWXoU3ODBz1xrDgd","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}