Shape-controlled synthesis of ZnO architectures

Several ZnO nanoarchitectures have been selectively prepared through hydrothermal method including urchin-shaped, flower-shaped, butterfly-shaped, and cacti-shaped microstructures. The influence of reaction temperature and the concentration of amphiphilic copolymer on the morphologies and shapes of ZnO samples have been studied. The samples were characterized using XRD, TEM, and SEM. It was found that ZnO nanorods or their assemblies were fabricated at higher temperature, whereas ZnO nanosheet architectures were produced at lower temperature. These flower-shaped architectures possess high BET surface area of 27.43 m(2)/g. Room temperature UV-VIS and PL spectra of the as-obtained ZnO nanoarchitectures have been examined. (c) 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.