Large-scale synthesis of ZnO flower-like and brush pen-like nanostructures by a hydrothermal decomposition route

In this present report, large-scale ZnO flower-like and brush pen-like nanostructures have been synthesized by a simple hydrothermal decomposition route. The flower-like nanostructure is composed of tens of radially oriented hexagonal nanorods. Field emission scanning electron microscopy was used to investigate the formation process of the brush pen-like nanostructures which ultimately lead to the formation of ZnO nanonunchakus. This facile low-cost controllable growth procedure holds promise in the future large-scale synthesis of ZnO nanostructures for many important applications in nano-/micro-scale devices. Room-temperature PL spectra from the ZnO flower-like and brush pen-like structures reveal weak UV emission and strong green emission. (C) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.