Self-assembly of ZnO nanoparticles and subsequent formation of hollow microspheres

• Published in: Journal of alloys and compounds 2009-01, Vol.468 (1), p.303-307
• Main Authors: Mazloumi, Mahyar, Taghavi, Shadi, Arami, Hamed, Zanganeh, Saeid, Kajbafvala, Amir, Shayegh, Mohammad Reza, Sadrnezhaad, S.K.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Chemical synthesis; Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Exact sciences and technology; Materials science; Methods of nanofabrication; Nanocrystals and nanoparticles; Nanofabrication; Nanopowders; Nanoscale materials and structures: fabrication and characterization; Nanostructured materials; Optical properties; Optical properties and condensed-matter spectroscopy and other interactions of matter with particles and radiation; Optical properties of low-dimensional, mesoscopic, and nanoscale materials and structures; Oxide materials; Physics; Self-assembly
• ISSN: 0925-8388; 1873-4669
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2007.12.082

Nanostructure ZnO hollow microspheres with average crystallite size of about 15 nm, and average diameter of about 1 μm, were successfully fabricated through a novel hydrothermal method. Hollow microspheres were formed due to self-assembly of ZnO oblong nanoparticles, which resulted in formation of a protrusive surface nanostructure. The obtained material was characterized with X-ray diffraction pattern (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and photoluminescence (PL) investigations. The photoluminescence characterization of the nanostructure microspheres exhibited a UV irradiation at around 380 nm and a broad visible emission band centered at green region.