Synthesis and optical properties of ZnO nanostructures in imidazolium-based ionic liquids

Different morphologies of ZnO nanostructures have been synthesized by a simple reflux method, in imidazolium-based ionic liquids and water as a solvent. The effects of ionic liquid as a template with different concentrations and the amount of sodium hydroxide on the morphology and size of nanostructures were investigated. The structural and optical properties of these ZnO particles were studied by using XRD, SEM and UV–Visible. The characteristic results revealed that using different ionic liquids in water not only prevent a drastic increase in the crystallite size of the zinc oxide species but also provide suitable conditions for the oriented growth of primary nanoparticles with nano sheet and nano hallow block. The results show that the longer alkyl chain at position-1 of imidazole ring or using dicationic ionic liquid with a definite concentration cause the more width of nano sheet. A possible mechanism was proposed to explain the formation of ZnO nanostructures with different morphology.

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► Ionic liquid as a template with different concentrations and the amount of sodium hydroxide on the morphology nanostructures of ZnO were affected.
► The longer alkyl chain at position-1 of imidazole ring of ionic liquid as template cause nano sheet structure of ZnO with more width.
►  Using dicationic ionic liquid with a definite concentration cause the more width of nano sheet.