Hierarchical Growth of ZnO Particles by a Hydrothermal Route

The crystallization of ZnO microrods by hydrothermal treatment of a suspension formed from reaction of zinc acetate and sodium hydroxide has been examined using scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Polycrystalline hexagonal ZnO microrods first appeared after 0.5 h reaction time at 120°C. These early stage rods were composed of stacks of hexagonal layers, each ~50 nm in thickness containing closely aligned assemblies of nanocrystallites <20 nm in size. Further growth of the microrods involved columns of nanoparticles extending from the basal layers of the preformed hexagonal stacks. Re-crystallization produced single-crystal microrods, many of which existed as twin particles.