Fabrication of two-dimensional ZnO nanostructures from nanoparticles

Two-dimensional ZnO nanostructures have been prepared with nanoprticles as building blocks either by a solvothermal method or a liquid transport process at room temperature. ZnO nanoparticles can agglomerate into particulate nanosheets with area size in the micrometer range by directly heating in n-hexane. A stack of ultrathin ZnO particulate nanosheets can be obtained via two-dimensional aggregation of nanoparticles when the vapor - liquid - solid interface acts as a template at room temperature. The products are characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, nitrogen adsorption isotherm, and photoluminescence spectroscopy. The formation mechanism of ZnO nanostructures is discussed.