Oriented morphogenesis of ZnO nanostructures from water-soluble zinc salts under environmentally mild conditions and their optical properties

Joydeb Manna, Rohit Kumar Rana

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

23 Scopus citations

Abstract

Herein, we report a bottom-up, mineralization strategy, which borrows key principles from biomineralization processes, to synthesize nanostructured materials. A long-chain polyamine simultaneously mineralizes and assembles ZnO nanoparticles directly from water-soluble zinc salts under sustainable synthesis conditions. These thus-generated oriented structures undergo interesting morphogenesis that is controlled by changing the ratio of polyamine/Zn 2+ ions. As the ratio increases, the morphology changes from a spherical shape to oval-, dumbbell-, and finally hexagonal-rod-shaped structures that contain unique hollow rod structures. Using XPS, XRD, FT-IR, Raman spectroscopy, DLS, and confocal fluorescence microscopic analysis, we elucidate the mechanism of structural evolution; this mechanism involves the initial formation of a zinc/amine complex that is furnished with polyamine chains. These chains facilitate the condensation process to form ZnO nanoparticles and their assembly in aqueous medium at neutral pH. Further, the presence of defects in the thus-morphogenized ZnO structures leads to blue luminescence and efficient photoinduced activity, assisted by the surface-hole-trapping effect of polyamines.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)498-506
Number of pages9
JournalChemistry - A European Journal
Volume18
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 9 Jan 2012
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • biomimetic synthesis
  • nanostructures
  • photocatalysis
  • self-assembly
  • zinc

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Catalysis
  • Organic Chemistry

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