Catalyst-free synthesis, growth mechanism and optical properties of multipod ZnO with nanonail-like legs

Multipod ZnO with nanonail-like legs was synthesized successfully by a facile combustion oxidation method at 880 °C without any catalysts. The morphologies of three samples obtained from three growth stages, namely sprout, growing and multipod with nanonail-like legs, were investigated. The possible growth mechanism was discussed in detail. Compared with the other two structures, the multipod with nanonail-like legs exhibited a significant enhancement in the green emission region. Its unique structure together with its good optical properties suggest that it is a promising candidate for the fabrication of optical nanodevices.