One-Step Hydrothermal Synthesis of Comb-Like ZnO Nanostructures

Zinc oxide (ZnO) nano-superstructures (NSSs) have attracted intense research interest due to their large surface areas and unique properties. In this work, we report an original approach to synthesize ZnO NSSs in a one-step manner with a hydrothermal method. The crystalline structures and growth mechanism can be understood by surface energy calculations. The reaction kinetics was investigated for the control of the morphology of ZnO NSSs. The critical role of the morphology of Au catalysts in the synthesis of ZnO nanostructures has been demonstrated. Such ZnO NSSs can be fabricated on various rigid and flexible substrates for applications in electronics, solar cells, and piezoelectric devices.