Zinc-oleate complex as efficient precursor for 1-D ZnO nanostructures: synthesis and properties

Using a zinc-oleate complex as an efficient self-templated precursor, we report the synthesis of ZnO nanowires and olive-shaped nanorods with growth directions along the (0001) planes via a mild hydrothermal route. As-obtained ZnO products were characterized by using X-ray powder diffraction, scanning electronic microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, UV-vis absorption spectroscopy and photoluminescence spectroscopy. Compared to ZnO nanorods, long nanowires show enhanced photoactivity for methylene blue degradation under UV light irradiation. The surface wettability of the samples was also measured and the hydrophobicity of ZnO long nanowires and the hydrophilicity of ZnO olive-shaped nanorods were observed. The gas sensitivity for acetone and ethanol of both ZnO nanorods and nanowires was measured.