Preparation and characterization of ZnO tetrapods and octapods

•ZnO tetrapods and octapods were prepared via an simple method.•The tetrapods consist of four arms branching from one center.•The octapods consist of eight arms branching from one center.•A schematic growth mechanism for tetrapods and octapods was proposed.

In this paper, ZnO tetrapods and octapods were prepared via an oxidative-metal-vapor-transport method. SEM results show that the tetrapods consist of four arms branching from the same center, and the angles between the arms are nearly the same analogous to the spatial structure of methane molecule. On the other hand, the octapods consist of eight arms branching from the same center. Both ZnO tetrapods and octapods present a Wurtzite structure, confirmed by XRD characterization. TEM results reveal that the arm growth direction of ZnO tetrapods was along [0001] and center of tetrapod consists of eight-trigonal pyramidal crystal. A schematic growth mechanism for ZnO tetrapods and octapods is proposed.

Graphical abstractZnO tetrapods and octapods were prepared via an oxidative-metal-vapor-transport method.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide