Zno nanoshells: Synthesis, structure, and optical properties

ZnO hollow shells have been synthesized by thermal evaporation of Zn at 500 °C in a tube furnace under the flow of argon:oxygen (10:1) gas mixture. No catalyst has been used in the process. The shells have been characterized by using a number of techniques, including scanning electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, selected-area electron diffraction, X-ray diffraction, and photoluminescence. The structural and optical properties of the ZnO hollow shells, as well as the possible growth mechanism, are discussed.