10.1016/j.physe.2013.09.020
ZnO nanowire/reduced graphene oxide nanocomposites for significantly enhanced photocatalytic degradation of Rhodamine 6G

ZnO NWs were prepared by a modified carbothermal reduction method in our previous work [23]. The mixture of ZnO powder and graphite (500 mesh) with a weight ratio of 1:0.8 was placed in the middle of the furnace. The furnace was heated to 1150 degC and purged with mixed gas of air (0.1 L/min) and N2 (4.5 L/min) as reactive and carrier gas. After about 5 min, white snowflake-like product was carried out by the carrier gas and collected by a 5000 mL flask at the downstream of the furnace. 

GO was prepared by a modified Hummers' method. In a typical experiment, 0.5 g graphite oxide was ultrasonicated in deionized water with 0.1 g PVP to form GO solution. Then 0.5 g ZnO NWs were added into GO solution. After that, the mixture was stirred at room temperature for 2 h, followed by centrifuging and washing with deionized water to remove impurities. Finally, the nanocomposites were desiccated at 50 degC overnight and further thermally reduced at 300 degC.

graphite
500 mesh
mesh
mixture of ZnO powder and graphite
weight ratio
1:0.8
furnace
heated
1150 degC
degC
white snowflake-like product
carried out
After about 5 min
min
flask
5000 mL
mL
graphite oxide
ultrasonicated
0.5 g
g
PVP
ultrasonicated
0.1 g
g
ZnO NWs
added
0.5 g
g
mixture
stirred
2 h
h
nanocomposites
desiccated
50 degC
degC
nanocomposites
thermally reduced
300 degC
degC