Processing temperature driven morphological evolution of ZnO nanostructures prepared by electro-exploding wire technique

This article presents an effective approach for the synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles with desired morphology via an environmentally benevolent electro-exploding wire (EEW) technique. In this process, ZnO nanoparticles evolve through the plasma generated from the parent Zn metal. Compared to other typical chemical methods, electro-exploding wire technique is a simple and economical technique that normally operates in water or organic liquids under ambient conditions. The effect of different processing temperatures in the range (5–80 °C), on the morphology of ZnO nanoparticles is clearly demonstrated. At 5 °C, nanoparticles with spherical morphology are observed. However, elliptical morphology is observed at room temperature and multipod nanorods at 50 °C and 80 °C. The evolution of ZnO phase is investigated with the help of time dependent UV-vis absorption and photoluminescence (PL) studies. The mechanism of formation and different morphologies of ZnO nanoparticles formed are also proposed. (papers)