Preparation of ZnO particle with novel nut-like morphology by ultrasonic pretreatment and its luminescence property

Novel nut-like zinc oxide crystal has been prepared by a low temperature hydrothermal method with the presence of Cu2+ ion. It seemed that the ultrasonic pretreatment was the key factor during the preparation process. SEM observations revealed that the as-prepared ZnO crystal exhibited nut shape showing well-defined crystallographic facets. The cross-section of the ZnO crystal was hexagonal of about 800 nm–1 μm in diameter, and the aspect ratio was a little smaller than 1:1. The room temperature photoluminescence behavior of the nut-like zinc oxide crystal was much stronger than the reference samples.