| Abstract: | ZnO nanostructures with various morphologies including rod‐like, sheet‐like, needle‐like and flower‐like structures were successfully synthesized via a fast and facile microwave‐assisted hydrothermal process. Reaction temperature, reaction time and the addition of NaOH were adjusted to obtain ZnO with different morphologies. Scanning electron microscopy(SEM), transmission electron microscope(TEM), X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and ultraviolet spectrophotometer (UV) were used to observe the morphology, crystal structure, ultraviolet absorption and photocatalytic activity of the obtained ZnO. The results indicated that growth rate of ZnO nanostructure along 001] direction was more sensitive to temperature compared with those along 101] and 100] directions. The competition between anionic surfactant and OH− played an important role in the formation of ZnO with various morphologies. Flower‐like ZnO had better ultraviolet absorption property and excellent photocatalytic activity than ZnO in the other morphologies. On the basis of the above results, a possible growth mechanism for the formation of ZnO nanostructures with different morphologies was described. |
