This paper presents novel and facile methods for the fabrication of a series ZnO spheres by template-free, carbon template and hydrated-salt assisted solvothermal process, respectively. Phase purity and crystalline structure of the products were studied by X-ray diffraction analysis. SEM was employed to investigate the morphology and the fabrication of the monodisperse. BET analysis revealed that the asprepared samples possessed huge specific surface area. UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy showed that these ZnO hollow spheres have a higher absorption. The as-prepared samples showed excellent photocatalytic activity for the decomposition of NO gas under both visible-light and UV light irradiation (lambda >510,400, 290 nm), being superior to that of commercial TiO2 powders. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.