Abstract
We report on possibilities to convert, by means of thermal treatment, the wettability properties of networks consisting of ZnO microtetrapods from hydrophobic to super-hydrophilic. The ZnO microtetrapods were produced by flame transport synthesis. The ZnO powder containing the ZnO tetrapods were pressed in pellets with the density of 1 g cm−3 using a compression mold. The comparative study was performed on two sets of samples, and namely: the as-grown ZnO tetrapods pressed in pellets and the annealed pellets. The wettability conversion proved to be an irreversible process for a long period. As a result, the thermal treatment process not only increase the mechanical stability of the ZnO pellets but also essentially increase the hydrophilic behavior of ZnO tetrapods, which is a very important issue for further chemical or electrochemical functionalization. Apart from wettability characteristics investigated by Water Contact Angle (WCA) measurements, the structural and optical properties were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and photoluminescence (PL) techniques, respectively. The XRD patterns revealed the hexagonal wurtzite structure and a high structural quality of both as-grown samples and annealed networks of microtetrapods at 950 ℃. Their high quality was also confirmed by the presence of PL bands related to exciton recombination in the emission spectrum. The possible nature of other PL bands, especially green emission band attributed to specific recombination channels and their evolution with thermal treatment are discussed.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Tiginyanu, I., et al.: Self-organized and self-propelled aero-GaN with dual hydrophilic/hydrophobic behavior. Nano Energy 56, 759–769 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nanoen.2018.11.049
Plesco, I., et al.: Aero-ZnS architectures with dual hydrophilic-hydrophobic properties for microfluidic applications. APL Mater. 8, 061105 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0010222
Mishra, Y.K., et al.: Fabrication of macroscopically flexible and highly porous 3D semiconductor networks from interpenetrating nanostructures by a simple flame transport approach. Part. Part. Syst. Charact. 30, 775–783 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1002/ppsc.201300197
Plesco, I., et al.: Highly porous and ultra-lightweight aero-Ga2O3: enhancement of photocatalytic activity by noble metals. Materials 14, 1985 (2021). https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14081985
Mecklenburg, M., et al.: Aerographite: ultra lightweight, flexible nanowall, carbon microtube material with outstanding mechanical performance. Adv. Mater. 24, 3486 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.201200491
Schütt, F., et al.: Conversionless efficient and broadband laser light diffusers for high brightness illumination applications. Nat. Commun. 11, 1437 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-14875-z
Ciobanu, V., et al.: Aero-TiO2 prepared on the basis of networks of ZnO tetrapods. Crystals 12, 1753 (2022). https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst12121753
Monaico, E.V., Busuioc, S., Tiginyanu, I.M.: Controlling the degree of hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity of semiconductor surfaces via porosification and metal deposition. In: Tiginyanu, I., Sontea, V., Railean, S. (eds.) 5th International Conference on Nanotechnologies and Biomedical Engineering. ICNBME 2021. IFMBE Proceedings, vol. 87. Springer, Cham (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-92328-0_9
Monaico, E.V., Monaico, E.I., Ursaki, V.V., Tiginyanu, I.M.: Porous semiconductor compounds with engineered morphology as a platform for various applications. Physica Status Solidi (RRL) – Rapid Research Letters, 2300039 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1002/pssr.202300039
Mishra, Y.K., et al.: Versatile fabrication of complex shaped metal oxide nano-microstructures and their interconnected networks for multifunctional applications. KONA Powder Particle J. 31, 92–110 (2014). https://doi.org/10.14356/kona.2014015
Nishio, K., Isshiki, T., Kitano, M., Shiojiri, M.: Structure and growth of tetrapod-like ZnO particles. Philos. Mag. A 76, 889–904 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1080/01418619708214216
Ronning, C., Shang, N.G., Gerhards, I., Hofsäss, H.: Nucleation mechanism of the seed of tetrapod ZnO nanostructures. J. Appl. Phys. 98, 034307 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1997290
Wang, B.B., Xie, J.J., Yuan, Q., Zhao, Y.P.: Growth mechanism and joint structure of ZnO tetrapods. J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys. 41, 102005 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1088/0022-3727/41/10/102005
Yang, D., Gopal, R.A., Lkhagvaa, T., Choi, D.: Oxidizing agent impacting on growth of ZnO tetrapod nanostructures and its characterization. Environ. Res. 197, 111032 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2021.111032
Özgür, Ü., Alivov, Ya.I., Liu, C.: A comprehensive review of ZnO materials and devices. J. Appl. Phys. 98, 041301 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1992666
Janotti, A., Van de Walle, C.G.: Fundamentals of zinc oxide as a semiconductor. Rep. Prog. Phys. 72, 126501 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1088/0034-4885/72/12/126501
Wang, Z.G., Zu, X.T., Zhu, S., Wang, L.M.: Green luminescence originates from surface defects in ZnO nanoparticles. Physica E 35, 199–202 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physe.2006.07.022
Kumar, S., Sahare, P.D.: Effect of surface defects on green luminescence from ZnO nanoparticles. In: AIP Conference Proceedings, Chandigarh, India, vol. 1393, pp. 159–160 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3653658
Ursaki, V.V., et al.: Photoluminescence of ZnO layers grown on opals by chemical deposition from zinc nitrate solution Semicond. Sci. Technol. 19, 851–854 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1088/0268-1242/19/7/012
Ursaki, V.V., et al.: Photoluminescence and resonant Raman scattering from ZnO-opal structures. J. Appl Phys. 96, 1001–1006 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1762997
Meyer, B.K., et al.: Bound exciton and donor–acceptor pair recombinations in ZnO. Phys. stat. sol. (b) 241, 231–260 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1002/pssb.200301962
Mozumder, M.S., Mourad, A.H.I., Pervez, H., Surkatti, R.: Recent developments in multifunctional coatings for solar panel applications: a review. Sol. Energy Mater. Sol. Cells 189, 75–102 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solmat.2018.09.015
Acknowledgments
This research was funded by the National Agency for Research and Development of Moldova under the Grant #22.80013.5007.4BL “Nano- and hetero-structures based on zinc oxide and A3B5 compounds for optoelectronics, photonics and biosensorics”. This research was funded by ECSEL JU under the following grant agreements: No. 876124 (BEYOND5) and No. 875999 (IT2). The JU receives support from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program and Germany, Belgium, Sweden, Austria, Romania, France, Poland, Israel, Switzerland, Netherlands, Hungary, United Kingdom. This work is financially supported by the Romanian Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digitalization, under the following ECSEL-H2020 Projects: BEYOND5-Contract no. 12/1.1.3/31.07.2020, POC-SMIS code 136877 and IT2-Contract. no. 11/1.1.3H/06.07.2020, POC-SMIS code 136697.
Conflict of Interest.
The authors declare no conflicts of interest. The funding sponsors had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript, and in the decision to publish the results.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2024 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this paper
Cite this paper
Ciobanu, V. et al. (2024). Controlling Hydrophobic/Hydrophilic Properties of ZnO Microtetrapods Structures by Means of Thermal Treatment. In: Sontea, V., Tiginyanu, I., Railean, S. (eds) 6th International Conference on Nanotechnologies and Biomedical Engineering. ICNBME 2023. IFMBE Proceedings, vol 91. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-42775-6_32
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-42775-6_32
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-031-42774-9
Online ISBN: 978-3-031-42775-6
eBook Packages: EngineeringEngineering (R0)