Hydrothermal synthesis and characterization of micro/nanostructured ZnSn(OH)6/ZnO composite architectures

Micro/nanostructured ZnSn(OH)₆/ZnO composite architectures were synthesized through a simple one‐step hydrothermal method. Phase structure and morphology of the products were characterized by using X‐ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). ZnSn(OH)₆ microcubes and ZnO nanorods with uniform size were interconnected to form the micro/nanostructured architectures. ZnO nanorods preferentially grow at edges and corners of the microcubes. Morphology of the products was susceptible to concentration of the reactants. With increasing reactant concentration, the ZnO nanorods grown on the surfaces of ZnSn(OH)₆ microcubes disappeared. Meanwhile, the smooth surfaces of the ZnSn(OH)₆ microcubes become coarsened and were etched to spherical outlines. Growth mechanism of the micro/nanostructured ZnSn(OH)₆/ZnO composite architectures was discussed and thermal decomposition properties of the micro/nanostructured ZnSn(OH)₆/ZnO composite architectures at high temperature were examined. (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)