Effects of initial precursor and microwave irradiation on step-by-step synthesis of zinc oxide nano-architectures

ZnO nano-architectures were produced with the aid of a fast, simple and low cost microwave-assisted synthesis method. Solid semispherical ZnO nanoparticles on the order of 600 nm in diameter along with rice-like ZnO nanorods 95 nm thick were produced from butanol, triethanolamine (TEA), and zinc acetate dihydrate. Solid spherical ZnO nano-architectures with an average diameter of 250 nm were produced from the same starting materials in addition to NaOH. X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy were used to characterize the ZnO nano-architectures as well as the precursor. This method is cheap, fast and simple; capable of producing large quantities of each ZnO nanostructure. Investigation of the step-by-step formation mechanism for each ZnO nanostructure was conducted.

► We studied rapid synthesis of various ZnO nanostructures via simple chemical solution routes.
► We have Investigated the effects of initial precursor on morphologies of ZnO.
► We have studied the effects of microwave heating on synthesis of ZnO nano-architectures.
► We have evaluated the behavior of NaOH as an additive to our initial ZnO precursor on its morphology.
► We have found this method to be a fast, simple and low cost method for production of ZnO nanopowders with different morphologies.