Synthesis of large-scale uniform mulberry-like ZnO particles with microwave hydrothermal method and its antibacterial property

Large-scale uniform mulberry-like ZnO particles were successfully synthesized via a fast and simple microwave hydrothermal method. The formation mechanism of mulberry-like ZnO particles was investigated by adding different types of alkalis and different amounts of triethanolamine (TEA). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were used to observe the morphology and crystal structure of the obtained ZnO. The results revealed that the as-prepared ZnO products had an average diameter of about 150 nm and polycrystalline wurtzite structure. The existence of TEA was vital for the formation of nanoparticle-assembled mulberry-like ZnO particles. These mulberry-like ZnO particles exhibited stronger antibacterial effects on Candida albicans than did sheet-like and flower-like ZnO.