ZnO nanostructured microspheres and elongated structures grown by thermal treatment of ZnS powder

Abstract

ZnO microspheres, with surfaces covered with nanowalls, as well as nano- and microrods, have been grown by thermal treatment of ZnS powder. The structures have been grown at temperatures in the range of 750-900 ºC in a catalyst-free process. Previous mechanical treatment of the ZnS powder by ball milling has been found to influence the morphology and size of the obtained structures. Cathodoluminescence in the scanning electron microscope has shown that spheres and elongated structures have an inhomogeneous luminescence emission.