engleski

The Double Role of p-Toluenesulfonic Acid in the Formation of ZnO Particles with Different Morphologies

The role of p-Toluenesulfonic acid (p-TSA) as a catalyst and/or morphology-directing agent in the formation of ZnO particles with different sizes (20 to 250 nm) and shapes (from bullet-like to complex, cauliflower architectures) was studied. One-pot, low-temperature syntheses were 10 performed using reaction mixtures containing zinc acetylacetonate hydrate (zinc oxide precursor), 1-butanol (medium and oxygen supplier) and different concentrations of p-TSA. The catalytic role of the p-TSA was pronounced when the p-TSA concentration was kept low, while an elevated acid concentration inhibits the reactivity of the ZnO precursor toward the alcoholysis, presumably due to the adhesion of the p-TSA on its surface. The abundance of ZnO surface chelation with the p- 15 TSA controls the ZnO particle growth and shape as well as the self-assembly of ZnO nanocrystals into complex architectures. The particles’ characterization and growth were assessed using TEM, HRTEM, FE-SEM, XRD and FTIR, while the reaction mechanism was proposed on the basis of 13C and 1H NMR experiments.

metal-oxide nanocrystals; hydrothermal synthesis; organic-solvents; nanotubes; semiconductor; electrodes; nanobelts; routes; growth; arrays;

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