Structural and optical characterization of hemimorphite with flower-like morphology synthesized by a novel low-temperature method

We report on novel, low temperature synthesis of well crystallized hemimorphite zinc silicate Zn4Si2O7(OH)2(H2O) (ZSO) with flower-like morphology, via one-pot method that includes the assistance of a non-ionic block copolymer. The morphology of the synthesized ZSO powder was observed by SEM and FESEM. The structure of the ZSO sample was refined down to the R-factor of 8.6%. The refinement revealed the ZSO powder that belongs to the orthorhombic system with space group Imm2, and ZnO nanoparticles as a minor phase in the synthesized powder. The photoluminescence (PL) and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) measurements demonstrated optical properties of the minor ZnO phase.

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► Novel low temperature synthesis of well crystallized hemimorphite.
► Zinc silicate, Zn4Si2O7(OH)2(H2O), (ZSO) has floral arrangement/morphology.
► ZnO nanoparticles are present in the synthesized powder as a minor phase.
► Optical properties belong to the minor ZnO phase.