Photoluminescent hierarchical Zno micro-flower and its surface wettability

The flower-like ZnO with micro-nano hierarchical structure is successfully obtained by a simple hydrothermal synthesis, using sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (SDBS) as a structure direct agent. The resulted ZnO micro-flowers are very uniform in morphology with particle sizes around 1 mu m. A number of techniques, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scan electron microscopy (FESEM), energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra and thermogravimetry analysis (TGA), are used to characterize the obtained ZnO. The self-assemble of ZnO nano-sheets under the direction of SDBS leads to the formation of ZnO micro-flowers. The room temperature photoluminescence property of the obtained flower-like ZnO exhibits a broad visible light emission. The surface of as-made ZnO shows a very hydrophilic property, while the special micro-nano hierarchical structure enables the ZnO micro-flower a superhydrophobic surface after modification of fluoroalkylsilane.