Morphology control and optical properties of ZnO nanostructures grown by ultrasonic synthesis

ZnO nanostructures of rod-like, faceted bar, cup-end bars, and spindle shaped morphologies could be grown by a low power ultrasonic synthesis process. pH of the reaction mixture seems to plays an important role for defining the final morphology of ZnO nanostructures. While the solution pH as low as 7 produces long, uniform rod-like nanostructures of mixed phase (ZnO and Zn(OH)₂ ), higher pH of the reaction mixture produces ZnO nanostructures of different morphologies in pure hexagonal wurtzite phase. pH of the reaction as high as 10 produces bar shaped uniform nanostructures with lower specific surface area and lower surface and lattice defects, reducing the defect emissions of ZnO in the visible region of their photoluminescence spectra.