Controlled-synthesis of ZnO nanorings

Abstract

ZnO nanorings were synthesized on a large scale by an easy solution-based method at 70°C for 5 h using hexamethylenetramine (C₆H₁₂N₄, HMT) and Zn(NO₃)₂·2H₂O as raw materials in the presence of surfactant poly(acrylamide-co-diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PAM-CTAC). The structure and morphology of the products were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The influence of experimental conditions such as concentration of surfactant and reactants, reaction temperature on the structure and morphology of the products were investigated. A probable formation mechanism of ZnO nanorings in the presence of surfactant PAM-CTAC was discussed. The results show that the products are wurtzite hexagonal ZnO nanorings with an inner diameter of 220 nm and a wall thickness of 70 nm. Reaction temperature and concentration of reactants influence the shape and size of ZnO nanorings but PAM-CTAC plays the key role in the formation of ZnO nanorings. Through adjusting the concentration of PAM-CTAC, controlled-synthesis of ZnO nanorings can be realized. A room temperature photoluminescence (PL) spectrum of ZnO obtained shows that the full width at half maximum (FWHM) of the UV emission (∼ 7 nm) is much narrower than that of commercial ZnO bulk crystals (∼ 18 nm). The narrow FWHM confirms the uniformity and narrow size distribution of the synthesized ZnO crystals.

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