Synthesis of ZnO nanostructures with controlled morphology and size in ionic liquids

Nanostructured ZnO has been synthesized by a hydrothermal route, using different ionic liquids (ILs) as the morphology templates. The morphology of ZnO changes from rod-like to star-like and flower-like in different ILs. A 3D nano/micro structure ZnO with unique flower-like morphology has been synthesized via the assembly of dicationic IL and [Zn(OH) 4 ] 2− . The flower-like pattern was obtained in the presence of IL 1 . The flower-like ZnO structure has a hexagonal prism, with a hexagonal pyramid on the tip, and diameter of ~444 nm. While the ZnO prepared in IL 2 , shows uniform rod-like shape with a diameter of 91 nm, star-like morphology consisting of nanorods with diameter of ~109 nm was formed in IL 3 . The XRD, SEM, and PL spectra have been employed for characterization of the synthesized ZnO nano structures.