Shape tuning of ZnO with ammonium molybdate and their morphology-dependent photoluminescence properties

In this work, several nano/microscale structures of ZnO including nanospindles, microbundles, microrods, and nanoflowers have been prepared via a facile template and surfactant-free hydrothermal method mediated with ammonium molybdate. It is found that the morphology of ZnO could be readily tailored by simple variation of the concentration of ammonium molybdate. The effects of the concentration of ammonium molybdate and reaction temperature on the synthesis were investigated. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy disperse spectroscopy (EDS), and spectrofluorometer (FL) were used to characterize the products. Results reveal that the photoluminescence (PL) properties of the as-prepared ZnO are strongly dependent on their morphologies.