Synthesizing of ZnO Micro/Nanostructures at Low Temperature with New Reducing Agents

Instead of the conventional graphite, new additional reducing agents (diamond, silicon, metal elements, etc.) have been mixed with zinc oxide (ZnO) powder to fabricate ZnO micro/nanostructures by a thermal vapour transport method. Due to the strong reducibility for those additions, the corresponding heating temperature is decreased by 100-500°C compared to the case of graphite, which subsequently decreases the corresponding growth temperature for the products. Being placed separately for the powder sources of ZnO and addition, a vapour--vapour reduction--oxidation reaction mechanism between the sources is proposed as an important channel to fabricate ZnO. Photoluminescence and magnetic examinations indicate that the ZnO products synthesized have strong ultraviolet (visible) emissions and are room-temperature ferromagnetic, meaning that the products are available for applications.