Assisted-hydrothermal Synthesis and Characterization of Flower-like ZnO Nanostructures

Flower-like nanostructures formed by ZnO nanorods were synthesized and deposited on seeded silicon and glass substrates by a hexamethylenetetramine (HMTA) - assisted hydrothermal method at low temperature (90 oC) with methenamine ((CH3)6N4), as surfactant and catalyst. The substrates were seeded with ZnO nanoparticles. The structure and morphology of the nanostructures were studied by means of x-ray diffraction (XRD), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques. Influence of the seed nanoparticle on the formation of the flower-like ZnO nanostructures is demonstrated. The influence of the organic oxygenated chains on the crystalline habit during the growth process is also observed.