Synthesis and native defectivity of Zn1−xVxO (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.03) photocatalysts
Nanodisperse solid solutions Zn1−xVxO (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.03) with high numbers of defects in an oxygen sublattice are synthesized via the precursor technique. ESR analysis reveals that VO+ oxygen vacancies are the main defects of the oxygen sublattice in the Zn1−xVxO structure. The Zn1−xVxO (0 < x ≤ 0.15) solid solutions exhibit high photocatalytic activity during hydroquinone oxidation in water upon irradiation with UV and visible light.