Soft solution synthesis of ZnO films with developed superstructures

A novel and simple two-step solution approach to prepare ZnO thin film consisted of 3D flower-like superstructure was demonstrated. The uniform, nano-dimensional scale and sphere-like ZnO crystals were first prepared on the borosilicate glass substrate in mild solution at 95 °C for 3 h, then introduced into 0.02 mol·L ^-1 hexamethylenetetramine (HMT, C ₆H ₁₂N ₄) aqueous solution and heated at the same temperature for 3 d. The obtained ZnO thin films were characterized by XRD, SEM and photoluminescence. The results indicated that the thin film with 3D flower-like superstructure possessed high crystallinity, high surface-volume ratio microstructure and excellent photoluminescence property. It is a potential way to prepare nano-structured materials by the mentioned simple and novel two-step solution synthesis process.