ZnO architectures synthesized by a microwave-assisted hydrothermal method and their photoluminescence properties

Zinc oxide (ZnO) architectures were synthesized by an efficient Microwave-Assisted Hydrothermal (MAH) method using a cationic surfactant, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), as the structure-directing template. The ZnO nanostructures and microstructures were obtained under hydrothermal conditions using microwave radiation (2.45 GHz) at 130 °C for 30 min. ZnO samples prepared at the same temperature for 60, 120 and 180 min were also obtained. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy techniques confirm that these samples are composed of one-dimensional structures with a hexagonal cross-section grow in the (0002) direction. In addition, Fourier Transform Raman spectroscopy and photoluminescence (PL) measurements were used to investigate the structural changes evolving into ZnO crystals. Using the MAH method, ZnO was obtained at a lower temperature and a shorter time compared to the conventional hydrothermal method.