Ethylene glycol assisted hydrothermal synthesis of flower like ZnO architectures

We describe a simple route to flower like ZnO architectures, based on the decomposition of zinc acetate precursor in water-ethylene glycol solution at 140–160 °C for 1d through hydrothermal method. The PXRD pattern reveals that the ZnO crystals are of hexagonal wurtzite structure. Ethylene glycol plays a key role on the morphology control of ZnO crystals. The SEM images of ZnO products prepared at 140 °C and 160 °C mainly exhibit flower like architecture composed of many rods. Whereas, the product prepared at 180 °C shows bunches accompanying a few number of free rods. TEM results reveal that the rods resemble swords with decrease in size from one end to another. From Raman spectrum, the peaks at 437 cm− 1, 382 cm− 1 and 411 cm− 1 correspond to E2 (high), A1 (TO) and E1 (TO) of ZnO crystals respectively. The photoluminescence spectrum exhibits strong UV emission at ~ 397 nm, which comes from recombination of exciton. The possible mechanism for the formation of flower like ZnO architecture is proposed.