Uniform single-crystalline zinc oxide round nanodisks, a comprehensive study on the hydrothermal growth

Uniform single-crystalline ZnO round nanodisks have been synthesized hydrothermally. The microstructure of samples is studied by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, high-resolution transmission electron microscope and selected area electron diffraction. The nanodisk is dominated by circular column-based thin disk of about 1.5 μm in diameter and 300 nm in thickness. The growth is favored along directions perpendicular to the [0001] zone axis with the typical growth along the [0001] direction suppressed, which directly leads to the formation of zinc oxide round nanodisk. The growth mechanism of the nanodisk is discussed. This work presents a simple and effective route for large-scale fabrication of uniform single-crystal round nanodisk.

► Uniform single-crystalline ZnO round nanodisks were prepared by the hydrothermal method.
► The synthesis route is easily controllable and well reproducible.
► The mechanism for the formation of ZnO round nanodisks was discussed.