Site-specific nucleation and growth kinetics in hierarchical nanosyntheses of branched ZnO crystallites

by Zhang, Tierui; Dong, Wenjun; Keeter-Brewer, Mary; Konar, Sanjit; Njabon, Roland N.; Tian, Z. Ryan

Here we report a site-specific sequential nucleation and growth route to the systematic building of hierarchical, complex, and oriented ZnO micro/nanostructures in solution nanosynthesis. Structures and morphologies of the products were confirmed by results from X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy studies. The organic structure-directing agents (SDAs), diaminopropane and citrate, are found to play different roles in controlling the evolution of these new morphologies. Through the selective adsorptions of SDAs on different crystal facets of the primary ZnO rods, we have alternated the hierarchical growth of secondary and tertiary new complex nanostructures. Roles of the SDA concentration, nucleation time, and growth kinetics in the solution hierarchical ZnO nanosyntheses have all been systematically investigated.

Journal
Journal of the American Chemical Society
Volume
128
Issue
33
Year
2006
Start Page
10960-10968
URL
https://dx.doi.org/10.1021/ja0631596
ISBN/ISSN
1520-5126; 0002-7863
DOI
10.1021/ja0631596