Synthesis mechanism and optical properties of well nanoflower-shaped ZnO fabricated by a facile method

摘要

Photoluminescent ZnO nanoparticles have wide applications in biolabeling. A dual phase hydrothermal method has been developed in this paper to synthesize nanoflower-shaped ZnO nanoparticles. Hydrogen peroxide was identified as a unique oxygenic source to promote the formation of ZnO nanoflowers from the organic zinc precursor. The reaction mechanism for the formation of ZnO nanoflowers was proposed and studied by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR). The as-prepared hydrophobic colloidal ZnO nanoparticles could be subsequently modified to water-soluble ZnO nanoflowers via a ligand exchange process with aminethanethiol HCl. The structure and optical properties of the ZnO nanoparticles were studied by transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and photoluminescence measurement (PL). Both types of ZnO nanoflowers demonstrated good photoluminescent properties which could have wide applications.