EXPLORATORY MATERIALS SCIENCE RESEARCH
Volume 1 – Issue 1 – 2020
Nanorod Hierarchical Structures Of 3D Flower-Like ZnO Nanoparticles And Their Structurally-Influenced Superhydrophobicities
Tayirjan T.Isimjan1,2,4, Quan Ge1, Edward Sacher3, De-Quan Yang1*
1Solmont Technology Wuxi Co., Ltd. 228 Linghu Blvd., Tianan Tech Park, A1-602, Xinwu District, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214135, (CHINA)
2Division of Physical Sciences and Engineering, Solar and Photovoltaics Engineering Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, (SAUDI ARABIA)
3Regroupement Québécois de Matériaux de Pointe, Départementde Génie Physique, Polytechnique Montréal, Case Postale 6079, Succursale Centre-Ville, Montréal, Québec H3C 3A7, (CANADA)
4Present address: SABIC-Corporate Research and Development Center (CRD) at KAUST, Thuwal 23955, (SAUDI ARABIA)
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ABSTRACT – DOI : https://dx.doi.org/10.47204/EMSR.1.1.2020.057-066
A simple aqueous solution process, employing triethylene glycol (TEG) and sodium hydroxide (NaOH), was used to synthesize zinc oxide (ZnO) powder, whose 3D flower-like structure self-assembled into larger scale nanorod hierarchical nanostructures. The influences of various reaction parameters on the crystal structures and morphologies of the resulting products were investigated. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). We found that the hierarchical ZnO nano/microstructures could be precisely controlled by adjusting the experimental parameters. Further, coatings prepared from two typical hierarchical ZnO flower-like structures showed high levels of superhydrophobicity on treatment with stearic acid. Superhydrophobicity values differed for different morphologies, attributed to the synergistic effects of the ratios of the dual structures formed. This leads to a simple, scalable, low-temperature aqueous solution synthesis route for flower-like zinc oxide, which is then self-assembled into nanorod blocks, intended for superhydrophobic coating applications.