Thermal evaporation and condensation synthesis of metallic Zn layered polyhedral microparticles

► Zn polyhedral microparticles prepared by thermal evaporation and condensation route. ► Vapour-solid process based growth model governs the formation of Zn microparticles. ► A strong PL emission band is observed at 369 nm in UV region. ► Radiative recombination of electrons in the s, p conduction band and the holes in the d bands causes this emission.