Synthesis of stoichiometric flowerlike ZnO nanorods with hundred per cent morphological yield

An environmentally benign, inexpensive hydrothermal route is used to synthesize flowerlike morphology composed of hexagonal ZnO nanorods (NRs) without using a template, surfactant, organic solvents or any catalytic agent under low hydrothermal pressure. The method involves direct growth of ZnO nanorods with flowerlike morphology, using an aqueous alkaline solution of ZnSO4 and NaOH, at relatively low temperature. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) data confirms the high crystal quality of ZnO with hexagonal (wurtzite-type) crystal structure. SEM images show that the ZnO product consists of hexagonal nanorods that originate from the same nucleating center and grow with a flowerlike pattern, with a hundred per cent morphological yield. The product was also characterized with EDAX, UV–visible, and PL techniques and the results are reported.