Functionalization of aniline molecules on zinc oxide(ZnO)nanoparticles is reported using a simple impregnation technique.Functionalized ZnO samples were systematically characterized based on mor-phology,surface and optical properties,and photocatalytic performance towards methyl orange(MO).Aniline functionalization increased the surface charge of the modified ZnO.Compared to pristine ZnO,the aniline-functionalized ZnO yielded faster photodegradation of MO,degrading 98.29% of MO in 60 min and superoxide radicals were the major species during the MO photodegradation reaction.These results indi-cate that the improvement of photocatalytic degradation could be attributed to opposite charge-induced surface adsorption.Hence,protonated amine as a positively charged molecule was expected to increase the surface adsorption of MO(as an anionic dye)on ZnO nanoparticles surfaces,thereby increasing their photocatalvtic degradation performance.