Synthesis, growth and characterization of ZnO microtubes using a traveling-wave mode microwave system

• ZnO microtubes were successfully synthesized within 15 min.
• Introducing a design of a traveling-wave mode microwave system.
• Growth temperature of ZnO microtubes becomes predominant between 1350 °C and 1400 °C.
• ZnO microtube showed a strong ultraviolet and a weak and broad green emission.
• ZnO microtube is composed only of ZnO with high crystallinity.

Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) investigation reveals that zinc oxide (ZnO) microtubes have been successfully synthesized via a traveling-wave mode microwave system. These products are hexagonal tubular crystals with an average diameter of 60 μm and 250 μm in length, having a well faceted end and side surfaces. The wall thickness of the ZnO tubes is about 3–5 μm. The influence of reaction temperature on the formation of crystalline ZnO hexagonal tubes is studied. Room temperature photoluminescence (PL) spectra have also been examined to explore the optical property which exhibits strong ultraviolet emission at 377.422 nm and a weak and broad green emission band at 587.548 nm. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS) show that the product is composed only of ZnO with high crystallinity. The presented synthesis method possesses several advantages, which would be significant to the deeper study and wide applications of ZnO tubes in the future.

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