Microwave assisted synthesis of ZnO nanorods in ionic liquid solution and their optical properties

ZnO nanorods have been synthesized via a microwave-assisted way by the reaction between Zn(NO3)2 &middot 6H2O and NaOH in the ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methyl imidazole six hexafluorophosphoric acid salts ([BMIM][PF6]) aqueous solution. The as-prepared samples were characterized by XRD, EDX, FESEM, UV and PL techniques. The results showed that the as-prepared ZnO nanorods have a diameter of about 20nm and a length of 400-500nm, and the ionic liquid [BMIM][PF6] played a key role. The effects of experimental parameters on the formation of the nanorods were explored, and a plausible three-step mechanism was proposed to explain the formation of ZnO nanorods. This facile and environment-friendly synthetic strategy many open new route to the preparation of other 1D functional nanomatericals.