Engineering the crystal growth behavior: “On substrate” MOD formation of ZnO hollow spheres

In this paper is described an easy, one-pot synthesis of ZnO hollow spheres with sizes ranging from 300 nm to 500 nm, by spin-coating deposition on aluminum substrate. Simplified models explaining the shape formation based on film–substrate interaction are discussed. The characteristic size and shape of the nanostructures obtained by the described method and the properties of ZnO as a low-cost biocompatible material make this methodology of synthesis interesting for a wide range of applications including optoelectronics, catalysis and (bio)sensors.