Abstract: Effect of different synthetic methods (polymer gel network and sol-gel) on the microstructures and photocatalytic activities of ZnO nanocrystals was studied by XRD, TEM, SEM, XPS and PL.The results show that the grain size of samples obtained by both methods increases with the increase in temperature, this leads to the reduced particle aggregation and defect for better crystallinity.By comparison, it is found that the samples calcinated at 650 ℃ by polymer gel network process exhibit the higher photocatalytic activity, which is attributed to the better crystallinity, more uniform particle distribution, larger specific surface area in the case of keeping high-concentration Chemical adsorption of oxygen.As such, polymer gel network process is a more suitable method in the synthesis of ZnO photocatalyst.

Key words: Effect of different synthetic methods (polymer gel network and sol-gel) on the microstructures and photocatalytic activities of ZnO nanocrystals was studied by XRD, TEM, SEM, XPS and PL.The results show that the grain size of samples obtained by both methods increases with the increase in temperature, this leads to the reduced particle aggregation and defect for better crystallinity.By comparison, it is found that the samples calcinated at 650 ℃ by polymer gel network process exhibit the higher photocatalytic activity, which is attributed to the better crystallinity, more uniform particle distribution, larger specific surface area in the case of keeping high-concentration Chemical adsorption of oxygen.As such, polymer gel network process is a more suitable method in the synthesis of ZnO photocatalyst.