A simple solvothermal route towards the morphological control of ZnO and tuning of its optical and photocatalytic properties

ZnO nanoparticles with different morphologies were solvothermally synthesized by controlling the alkali (sodium hydroxide) concentration in an isopropanol solution. The products were characterized by means of powder X-ray diffraction, UV-visible absorption spectra, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and selected area electron diffraction. The morphologies of the formed ZnO nanocrystals were dependent on the concentration of the alkali, and with increases of sodium hydroxide concentration, the ZnO nanocrystals evolved from rod to hexagonal bipyramid, and then to a flower-like nanostructure. The flower-like nanostructure resulted from the etching of the hexagonal bipyramid by the excess alkali. The photoluminescence and photocatalytic properties of the prepared ZnO were investigated. The difference of green emission among the ZnO nanocrystals indicated that a higher sodium hydroxide concentration led to a higher level of defects. The size, the surface structure and defects in the ZnO nanocrystals affected its photo-degradation characteristics.