Electrochemical self-assembly synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles and lamellar-structured organic/inorganic hybrids by electrodeposition in surfactant solution

A cathodic electrodeposition was potentiostatically performed in an anionic surfactant solution under various electrodeposition conditions to investigate the influence of the condition on the structure of electrodeposited products, c-axis oriented ZnO films, ZnO nanoparticles shaped like ellipsoidal grains, and lamellar-structured organic/inorganic hybrids. The single phase of the ZnO nanoparticles was obtained only at a specific electrodeposition condition which was confirmed to be the boundary condition for two phases of the c-axis oriented ZnO and the lamellar hybrids. The origin of synthesis of the ZnO nanoparticles is probably a competitive formation reaction between the products of the two phases.

Research highlights
► A cathodic electrodeposition of Zn ions was performed in an anionic surfactant solution.
► ZnO films oriented with c-axis were grown in the solutions at lower concentrations.
► Lamellar-structured organic/inorganic hybrids were formed at higher concentrations.
► At a boundary condition of the two phases, a single phase of ZnO nanoparticles was obtained.
► The nanoparticles are formed by a competitive formation reaction between the two phases.