Controlled Synthesis of ZnO Microcrystals by a Simple Microwave Reaction Method

A simple microwave reaction method without using additives was employed to synthesize ZnO microcrystals with controllable morphology. Zinc acetate dehydrate was selected as reactants and ethylene glycol-water was solvents. Peanutlike ZnO built up by short nanorods, multi-sphere aggregations, spherelike microcrystals covered by ZnO nanoparticles, and spinous morphology mixed with flake like ZnO were obtained only by change of power and time of microwave reaction. The products were characterized by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray powder diffraction, and UV/Vis spectrophotometer. X-ray diffraction pattern suggests that the ZnO crystals are pure hexagonal phase.