Formation of crystalline ZnO hexagonal prisms and nanoplates from a sol-gel method is presented. The method requires a zinc salt, water, and diethanolamine to create a gel, which upon heating forms the previously mentioned structures. Ethanolamines are critical for gel and prism formation, while other bases such NaOH and triethylamine produce nanoparticles. Using XRD and XRD high temperature chamber (HTK) to characterize the gel, it was determined that 100 degrees C was required for structure formation. SEM images showed hexagonal cocrystal prisms with uniform size (approx. 0.5 × 2 µm) and nanoplates (70–150 nm lengthwise and 15–30 nm thick) both with very distinct edges. TEM and electron diffraction images show the prisms and nanoplates are highly crystalline with rough surfaces. TEM also showed a change from randomly oriented particles in the gel to ordered crystals after heating. The ZnO prisms have effectively acted as photocatalysts in the degradation of organic dye.

Synthesis and characterization of zinc oxide micro and nanomaterials

251st National Meeting (2016)

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