Simple Hydrothermal Preparation of Zinc Oxide Powders Using Thai Autoclave Unit

Zinc oxide powders with different morphology have been successfully prepared by adopting zinc nitrate hexahydrate (Zn(NO3)(2)center dot 6H(2)O) and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) as the starting precursors in the mole ratio of Zn(NO3)(2)center dot 6H(2)O : NaOH of 1: 2 and 1: 10, via the simple hydrothermal process (60 degrees C for 6h) using Thai autoclave unit. The shape, size, and crystalline structures of the as-prepared ZnO powders were characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM) and x-ray diffraction (XRD). At the lower alkaline concentration, the prepared showed powder short prism-like shape with hexagonal phase. The average particle size was about 0.3-0.5 mu m in width and 0.5-0.7 mu m in length. At the higher alkaline concentration, the microstructure of ZnO powders change in turn from short prism to flower-like shapes. The particle size was about 30-80 nm in width and 0.5-1 mu m in length. This preparation method provide a simple hydrothermal routes to fabricate ZnO powders using Thai autoclave Unit. (C) 2013 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.