A self-propagating high-temperature synthesis method for synthesis of zinc oxide powder

A self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) method has been developed for synthesis of ZnO powder. Powders of Zn and an appropriate amount of NH4NO3 were mixed and pressed into a compact place in a closed chamber with air atmosphere. The combustion reaction was ignited by heating the reactant compact directly using nichrome coil, and then as-synthesized products mainly composed of tetrapod whiskers could be obtained. Both the reaction phenomenon and the product yield were affected by the reactant composition and the stacking density, which might be explained by a proposed reaction mechanism.