Hydrothermal synthesis of urchin-like ZnO and ZnO/ZnS heterogeneous architectures

Urchin-like ZnO and ZnO/ZnS heterogeneous architectures were synthesised by a facile, inexpensive and improved hydrothermal process without any surfactants or templates at 150°C for 16°h. The morphology and qualitative analysis of the products were characterised by X-ray powder diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, field-emitting scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The results indicate that the products are urchin-like and well crystallised. The red shift of the Zn°O vibrations in the ZnO/ZnS heterogeneous architectures is ca. 23°cm^-1 compared to that of the pure ZnO products. The growth mechanisms of ZnO and ZnO/ZnS heterogeneous architectures were discussed in detail.