High throughput growth of zinc oxide nanowires from zinc powder with the assistance of sodium chloride.
Sodium chloride (NaCl) was found to be very helpful in producing single crystal zinc oxide (ZnO) nanowires in gram quantities. The growth involves heating the mixture of zinc powder and NaCl to 600-700 degrees C in flowing gases of oxygen and argon. A conversion efficiency of 70-80% (Zn to ZnO) was achieved when NaCl was used, and 5-10% without NaCl. The NaCl was completely removed by soaking and rinsing the mixture in water a few times. Photoluminescence spectra using excitation of 325 nm showed a very strong emission only in the visible frequency range, indicating that the surface states dominate the emission.
Yang
Jian
J
Department of Physics, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts 02467, USA.
Wang
Wenzhong
W
Ma
Yi
Y
Wang
D Z
DZ
Steeves
D
D
Kimball
B
B
Ren
Z F
ZF
D003460:Crystallization / Q000379:methods*; D046911:Macromolecular Substances / Q000737:chemistry; D008422:Materials Testing; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D043942:Nanotubes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D010316:Particle Size; D011208:Powders; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000737:chemistry*; D013499:Surface Properties; D015032:Zinc / Q000737:chemistry*; D015034:Zinc Oxide / Q000737:chemistry*
D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D011208:Powders; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D015032:Zinc; D015034:Zinc Oxide