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.