Growth of ZnO nanorods on a preliminary crazed and seeded polyethylene films

With usage of crazing and counterdiffusion ZnO/HDPE (High Density PolyEthylene), polymer nanocomposites were obtained and their microstructure and optical properties were studied. Size of the Zinc oxide nanoparticles in ZnO/HDPE composites is 18±2 and 24±2 nm when synthesized from alcohol and aqueous solutions respectively. In the case of synthesis from alcohol solutions, more even distribution of inorganic phase in a polymer matrix was observed. The highest content of inorganic component in composites obtained amounted up to 30% by mass. Polymer nanocomposites obtained were used as a substrates for growth of ZnO nanorods array. When synthesizing on a polymer nanocomposites obtained from a aqueous solution, length of the nanorods, according to statistical analysis of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) microphotographs, was about 2.5 μm, while using alcohol solution nanorods of 1.1 μm in length were produced at the same conditions. According to SEM microphotographs, morphology of nanorods varies depending on the method of synthesis of ZnO seeds in polymer matrix.