Influence of soluble polymers on the formation of ZnO films from aqueous solutions

This study was conducted to clarify the effects of soluble polymers on the nucleation and growth of ZnO films in solution. The role of polymers is twofold. First, the indiscriminating adsorption of Zn(II) ions onto polymer surfaces, which leads to site-specific supersaturation with respect to the nucleation of ZnO, and secondarily, the charged polymer may change the surface charges of ZnO and alter the precipitation process. The former mainly occurs in the beginning of reactions, and the latter operates predominantly after the formation of ZnO nuclei. In addition, this research demonstrates the possibility of synthesizing inorganic/organic composites with special morphologies by regulating the dissolution–recrystallization chemistry that is regulated by polymer modification, and supports a novel process to optimize the structures.