Synthesis of ZnO nanostructures with controlled morphology and size in ionic liquids

Nanostructured ZnO has been synthesized by a hydrothermal route, using different ionic liquids (ILs) as the morphology templates. The morphology of ZnO changes from rod-like to star-like and flower-like in different ILs. A 3D nano/micro structure ZnO with unique flower-like morphology has been synthesized via the assembly of dicationic IL and [Zn(OH)(4)](2-). The flower-like pattern was obtained in the presence of IL 1. The flower-like ZnO structure has a hexagonal prism, with a hexagonal pyramid on the tip, and diameter of similar to 444 nm. While the ZnO prepared in IL 2, shows uniform rod-like shape with a diameter of 91 nm, star-like morphology consisting of nanorods with diameter of similar to 109 nm was formed in IL 3. The XRD, SEM, and PL spectra have been employed for characterization of the synthesized ZnO nano structures.