Shape evolution and applications in water purification: the case of CVD-grown Zn2SiO4 straw-bundles

Abstract

3-D straw-bundle-like Zn₂SiO₄ architectures assembled from numerous radial nanowires were synthesized by a simple thermal evaporation method using ZnCl₂ powder as reactant. The growth process was studied in detail and a “nanorods-to-straw-bundles-to-spheres” mechanism was proposed for the nanostructures synthesized from the vapor process. The application of the Zn₂SiO₄ straw bundles for the removal of toxic metal ions in water, Fe^III and Cd^II in this case, was investigated and the results indicate that the amount of Fe^III and Cd^II adsorbed onto the surface of the Zn₂SiO₄ straw bundles increased with the increase of pH values, and the Zn₂SiO₄ nanostructures showed better removal capacity for Fe^III ions than Cd^II ions.