Growing ZnO Crystals on Magnetite Nanoparticles

Abstract

We report herein on the oriented growth of ZnO crystals on magnetite nanoparticles. The ZnO crystals were grown by hydrolyzing a supersaturated aqueous solution of zinc nitrate. The seeds for the growth were magnetite nanoparticles with a diameter of 5.7 nm and a narrow size distribution. Hollowed ZnO hexagons of 0.15 microm width and 0.5 microm length filled with Fe(3)O(4) particles were obtained. HR-TEM (high-resolution transmission electron microscopy) and selected-area EDS (energy-dispersive spectroscopy) show that the nanoparticles are homogenously spread in the ZnO tubes. Zeta potential measurements were employed to understand the relationship between the nanoparticles and the oriented growth of the ZnO crystals. The results show that the surfactants induced the directional growth of the ZnO crystals.

Combustion synthesis, characterization and Raman studies of ZnO nanopowders

“…The fitting parameters (R p , R wp and 2 ) indicate a good agreement between the refined and observed PXRD patterns for the wurtzite ZnO. The refined lattice parameter values a = 3.2511(1)Å, c = 5.2076(2)Å and cell volume (V) = 47.66(5) (Å) 3 confirm that ZnO has a hexagonal structure. Fig.…”

“…It is well known that many fundamental properties of nanostructure materials can be expressed as a function of their size, composition and structural order. Meanwhile, nanostructures with different morphologies are nuclear parts of functional nanostructure devices [2,3]. Among various technologically important materials, the wide and direct band gap (3.37 eV) II-VI semiconductor ZnO has rapidly emerged as a promising optoelectronic material especially due to its low power threshold for optical pumping at room temperature, highly efficient UV emission resulting from a large exciton binding energy at room temperature (60 meV).…”

Controllable synthesis of ZnO nanocrystals via a surfactant-assisted alcohol thermal process at a low temperature

“…ZnO is one of the most important wide-band-gap materials (3.3 eV, at 300 K) that has superior electronic and optical properties [1]. As a low cost II -VI semiconductor which is environmentally friendly, its promising applications in short-wavelength light-emitting, transparent conductors, dye-sensitized solar cells, piezoelectric materials, gas sensors and varistors have initiated intensive research [2,3].…”

Nano/Micro Patterning of Inorganic Thin Films

“…Additives also influence nucleation and crystallization processes. [80][81][82][83] Additives can be ions and low molecular weight molecules such as surfactants, nanoparticles (seeds), and neutral or other soluble polymers and they may promote or suppress the nucleation and growth process, form the oriented crystals, or modify the morphology of the particle. An example is ZnO, which has been found to be present in different morphologies, typically from rods, [83][84][85] wires, 86 and tubes, 87 to more complex architectures.…”