Preparation of ZnO cluster and rod-like whiskers through hydrothermal methods

The cluster and rod-like ZnO whiskers were obtained via a simple hydrothermal route in the presence of sodium succinate hexahydrate (Na2C4H4O4·6H2O) at 180 °C for 24 h by using zinc salts and hydrazine hydrate (N2H4·H2O). The microstructures of the as-synthesized samples were investigated by means of scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscope, high-resolution transmission electron microscopes and X-ray diffraction. The cluster whiskers with typical widths of about 300 nm possess hexagonal structure. Room-temperature photoluminescence spectra of the whiskers show a strong UV emission at 397 nm, as well as a blue emission at 451 and 466 nm.