Preparation of zinc oxide particles by using layered basic zinc acetate as a precursor

TEA and NaOH are applied to transform layered basic zinc acetate into zinc oxide particles by a simple aqueous solution process (<100 degrees C). Zinc oxide with different morphologies, including dumbbells, earth-nuts, ellipsoids and hexagonal pillars, are obtained by carefully controlling the amounts of sodium hydroxide, triethanolamine, and reaction temperature. Field emission scanning electron microscope images, X-ray powder diffraction patterns. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy spectra and room-temperature photoluminescence spectra are used to characterize final products. Furthermore, a possible growth mechanism is discussed in this paper. This easy procedure for zinc oxide fabrication offers the possibility of a generalized approach to the production of metal oxide with tunable morphology. Crown Copyright (C) 2012 Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.