title: Zn(II)-PEG 300 globules as soft template for the synthesis of hexagonal ZnO micronuts by the hydrothermal reaction method.
abstract: Hexagonal ZnO micronuts (HZMNs) have been successfully synthesized with the assistance of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) 300 via a hydrothermal method. The structure and morphology of the HZMNs were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and selected area electron diffraction (SAED). An individual ZnO micronut is revealed as twinned crystals. Time-dependent investigation shows that the growth of HZMNs involves a dissolution-recrystallization process followed by Ostwald ripening, in which is the first formed solid ZnO particles dissolve and transform to HZMNs with hollow structure. PEG 300 has been found to play a crucial role in the growth of this unique hollow structure. TEM observations show that the PEG chains aggregate to globules in water, which then have interaction with the dissolved zinc species to form the globules in a coiled state under hydrothermal conditions. These Zn(II)-PEG 300 globules act as soft template for the growth of HZMNs, and the possible growth mechanism is proposed. The room-temperature photoluminescence (PL) spectrum shows red emission around 612 nm with a full width at half-maximum (fwhm) only about 13 nm.
authors.affiliation: College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, PR China.
authors.forename: Xixi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Lingling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: Shuoping
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.forename: Qiaoyun
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Liangjie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: Jutang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Lintao
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cai
mesh_terms: D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry*; D010316:Particle Size; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry*; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction; D015032:Zinc / Q000737:chemistry*; D015034:Zinc Oxide / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D015032:Zinc; D015034:Zinc Oxide