Controllable hydrothermal synthesis, growth mechanism, and properties of ZnO three-dimensional structures

Abstract

A series of ZnO three-dimensional (3D) structures, including flower-like, star-like, sphere-like and sea urchin-like morphologies, have been fabricated by a hydrothermal method without any catalyst or template. The morphologies of these ZnO structures can be conveniently controlled, by selecting the reactants and controlling the experimental conditions, with excellent reproducibility, and a specific mechanism for the formation is proposed. The ZnO 3D structures have a strong emission peak at 405 nm, and several weak emission peaks at 452, 467, 493, 541 and 568 nm, and a high sensitivity and selectivity for gas sensing of ethanol.