Synthesis and characterization of flower-like ZnO nanostructures via flower-like ZnOHF intermediate

• We present a simple route for the synthesis of flower-like ZnO porous nanostructures.
• The flower-like ZnOHF nanostructures were first prepared by a hydrothermal process.
• Flower-like ZnO nanostructures were achieved by calcinating ZnOHF nanostructures.
• The photoluminescence property of the as-prepared flower-like ZnO has been studied.
• The prepared ZnO nanostructures exhibit a strong and weak emission at 382 and 540 nm.

Flower-like ZnO nanostructures were obtained by annealing flower-like ZnOHF by a simple hydrothermal route. The experiments could be carried out under mild conditions in an inexpensive and environmental-friendly way. The surface morphology and microstructure of these as-prepared ZnO nanostructures were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The optical property of the prepared flower-like ZnO nanostructures was investigated by room-temperature photoluminescence (PL) spectra as well. The PL spectra confirmed that ZnO flower-like nanostructures exhibited emission band centered at 382 nm in UV region, which came from the characteristic emission of ZnO. Meanwhile, weak and broad emission peak centered at about 540 nm, which may be come from the defects existed in ZnO nanostructures.