Evolution of ZnO nanowires, nanorods, and nanosheets with an oxygen-assisted carbothermal reduction process

Abstract

A systematic hierarchical evolution of nanowires, nanorods, and nanosheets in ZnO, based on a oxygen-assisted carbothermal reduction process, was presented. Nanowires, nanorods, and nanoshects were synthesized in series with controlling oxygen partial pressure from 10(-6) to 10(-1). It was impossible to get ZnO nanowires with using Ar gas only and more than 1 ppm of oxygen could successfully introduce the ZnO nanowires on the Si substrates at the downstream of the tube. The additional oxygen gas with At carrier gas could introduce not only the nanowires but also the combs and sheets. The details of nanocombs and nanosheets also were presented.