In situ and one-step synthesis of hydrophobic zinc borate nanoplatelets

The polycrystalline and hydrophobic zinc borate (Zn2B6O11·3H2O) nanoplatelets were in situ successfully synthesized via one-step precipitation reaction in aqueous solution of Na2B4O7·10H2O and ZnSO4·7H2O with oleic acid as the modifying agent. The microstructures and morphology of the as-obtained samples were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) equipped with an energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Measurements of the relative water contact angle and the active ratio indicated that Zn2B6O11·3H2O samples were hydrophobic. It had been found that the as-prepared materials displayed nanoplatelet morphology with average diameters 100–500 nm and thickness 30 ± 5 nm and the morphology and size of the samples were controlled effectively.