Morphology engineering of ZnO micro/nanostructures under mild condition for optoelectronic application

Zinc oxide (ZnO) is an important functional semiconductor with wide direct bandgap about 3.37 eV. The solvothermal reaction has been usually employed to synthesize ZnO micro/nanostructures, which is inexpensive, simple and easy to implement. In addition, ZnO morphology engineering is desirable by changing slight condition in the reaction process, especially at room temperature. In this work, ZnO micro/nanostructures were synthesized in solution by changing amounts of ammonia addition at low temperature (even at room temperature). Ammonia can form Zn2+ complexes in precursor to control the reaction rate for morphology engineering of ZnO, such as nanoparticles, nanosheets, microflowers, and single crystals. Finally, the obtained ZnO was taken in optoelectronic application of ultraviolet detectors.