Photocatalytic degradation of unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine with Nd-doped ZnO nano-particles

Pure ZnO and Nd-doped ZnO were prepared via sol-gel method with zinc acetate dehydrate and lithium hydroxide monohydrate as raw material. The samples were characterized by means of X-ray diffraction, X-ray energy spectrum, UV-Vis spectroscopy and high resolution transmission electron microscope. The photocatalytic performance of different ZnO particles was studied using 15W ultraviolet lamp as the illumination device and unsymmetrical dimethyl-hydrazine as the stimulant pollutant. Effect of the amount of Nd was investigated. The results indicated that doping improved the photocatalytic performance of ZnO, the most active mole ratio being 0.025. When the reaction temperature was 30C, the degradation rate of UDMH could reach 92% by catalysis of 0.1 g/L in 100 min.