COL 11(10), 101801(2013) CHINESE OPTICS LETTERS October 10, 2013
Tuning the face orientation of ZnO nano/microcrystals
by a wet chemical method
Aparna Thankappan
1,2∗
, Sheenu Thomas
1
, and V. P. N. Nampoori
1
1
International School of Photonics (ISP), Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kochi, India
2
Inter University Centre for Nanomaterials and Devices (IUCND), Cochin University of
Science and Technology, Kochi, India
∗
Corresponding author: aparna.subhash@gmail.com
Received April 5, 2013; accepted August 2, 2013; posted online September 25, 2013
We successfully synthesize four kinds of ZnO nano/microcrystals including dumbbell microrods, nanoflakes,
nanoplates, and microrods by a simple wet chemical method. Growth duration is found to play a cru cial
role in the morphologies of these ZnO nano/microcrystallites. In addition, growth conditions are system-
atically studied as a function of precursor concentration and temperature. The structural and optical
characteristics of the ZnO samples are further investigated by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron mi-
croscopy, and photoluminescence spectroscopy.
OCIS codes: 180.5810, 300.6470.
doi: 10.3788/COL 201311.101801.
Control over the morphology and structure of nanomate-
rials is essential for the development of future devices
[1]
.
Over the pas t few years, considerable effort has been
exerted in controlling the morphology of nanocrystals
to fine tune their properties for potential applications
because the size, orientation, morphology, aspect ratio
(width-to-length ratio), and even crystal density can sig-
nificantly influence various properties. Therefore, the
morphology -controlled synthesis of nanostructures must
be developed
[2]
to address the demand for exploring the
potentials of ZnO.
Among promising opto e le c tronic semiconductors, ZnO
is a key functional material exhibiting ultraviolet (UV)
photoluminescence emission, transparent conductivity
along with semiconductivity, magnetic properties, and
piezoelectric prop e rties. ZnO also has a wide band gap
with an energy of 3.37 eV, notable biocompatibility,
as well as excellent chemical, mechanical, and thermal
stabilities
[3]
. Thus, ZnO is attracting attention from fun-
damental and practical researchers. ZnO is a polar crys-
tal with hexagonal phase and high anisotropy that leads
to oriented growth along the c-axis
[4]
. Crystal growth
morphology results from the interplay betwe e n crystal-
lographic anisotropy and growth kinetics
[5]
. Anisotropy
is a basic property of crystals. Anisotropic tendency
during crystal growth in association with the relation-
ship between crystal planes of solid materials and their
physicochemical properties has bee n studied by several
researchers
[6]
. Given the poor morpho logy-controlled
syntheses of nanoscale metal oxides, sy stematic studies
on the connection between crystal planes and properties
are limited. Morphology-controlled syntheses can clearly
demonstrate the strong excitation wavelength depen-
dence of the fluoresc e nce emission of ZnO crystals. The
excitation wavelength-dependent features of fluo rescence
emission allows for tunable laser sources.
In this letter, we report on the controlled synthesis of
the ZnO nano/microcrystals with different morphologies
using a simple wet chemical metho d. Dumbbell (DB)
microrods, nanoflakes, nanoplates, and microrods with
good crystalline properties were synthesized at different
growth durations (6–22 h) with excellent reproducibility.
The influences of precursor concentration, reaction time,
and temperatur e on the size and morphology of ZnO
were investigated. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM)
reveals that the mor phology of ZnO can b e effectively
controlled as DB microrods, nanoflakes, nanoplates, and
microrods. X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements show
that all samples have a hexagonal phase structure. The
room temperature photoluminescence of the as-prepared
ZnO is found to significantly depend on crysta l size, ori-
entation, morphology, aspect ratio, and crystal density.
All chemicals were purchased from Merck Ltd. And
used as received without further purification. A nutri-
ent solution was prepared from an a queous solution of
zinc nitrate hexahydrate (Zn(NO
3
)
2
6H
2
O) and hexam-
ethylenetetramine (HMTA) ((CH
2
)
6
N
4
). A hexamine
solution was added dropwise to the zinc nitrate solution
while stirring.
The following r e actions are involved in the crystal
growth of ZnO
[7]
(CH
2
)6N
4
+6H
2
O→6CHOH+4NH
3
, (1)
NH
3
+H
2
O↔NH
+
4
+OH
−
, (2)
Zn(NO
3
)
2
+H
2
O →Zn
2+
+2HNO
3
, (3)
2OH
−
+Zn
2+
→ZnO(s) +H
2
O. (4)
The reaction decomposes HMTA to formaldehyde
(HCHO) and ammonia (NH
3
), which acts as a pH buffer
by slowly decomposing to provide a gradual and con-
trolled supply of NH
3
. Then, NH
3
forms ammonium
hydroxide and suppo rt OH
−[8]
. Finally, OH
−
anions
react with Zn
2+
cations to form ZnO. Precursor concen-
tration, time, and temperature dependence experiments
were carried out to investigate the growth processes of
ZnO.
The size and morphology of ZnO samples were charac-
terized by SEM (JSM6390, JEOL/EO, USA). XRD data
1671-7694/2013/101801(4) 101801-1
c
2013 Chinese Optics Letters