Phase evolution from rod-like ZnO to plate-like zinc hydroxysulfate during electrochemical deposition

The effects of SO42- ion concentrations on the phase evolution of electrochemical deposited films have been investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The results show that SO42- ion concentration plays a very important role in directing the phase evolution of thick films from rod-like ZnO to plate-like zinc hydroxysulfate under fast hydroxylation. When ZnSO4 concentrations are below 0.54 mM, the oriented growth of ZnO rods tends to be enhanced with the increase of ZnSO4 concentration. Otherwise, the vertically aligned zinc hydroxysulfate plates can be formed by the introduction of SO42- ions in nanocrystals.