Zinc oxide nanoparticles from microwave-assisted solvothermal process: Photocatalytic performance and use for wood protection against xylophagous fungus

Nano- and micro-oxides are promising materials due to several interesting characteristics such as photocatalytic and antimicrobial role. In this work, zinc oxide nanorods were obtained by microwave-assisted solvothermal process and their photocatalytic performance and action for wood protection against wood-decay fungus was studied. The morphological (scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy analyses), microstructural (X-ray powder diffraction analysis) and chemical (infrared spectroscopy) characteristics of the oxide-based nanostructures were investigated. Moreover, photocatalytic performance was evaluated using methylene blue and methyl orange. The nanostructured zinc oxide was impregnated to pinewood samples at 1–5% content and tested for decay resistance using a white-rot fungus. Zinc oxide nanorods agglomerated as urchin-like structures presented high crystallinity, high purity, and high photocatalytic activity. Zinc oxide impregnation was effective in improving pinewood decay resistance, yielding similar protection compared to traditional wood preservative.