Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Controlling the aspect ratio of Zn(1−x)Eu(x)O nanostructures obtained by a statistical experimental design involving atomic layer deposition and microwave-assisted hydrothermal methods

  • Published:
Applied Physics A Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Different aspect ratio nanostructures of pure ZnO and Zn(1−x)EuxO were produced through the application of a statistical factorial design 23. The procedure consisted of two stages. First, the growth of ZnO thin films by atomic layer deposition on silicon (111) substrates, by decomposition of the metal precursor, diethyl zinc, at 190 °C and 0.25 Torr. In the next stage, those films were processed using the microwave-assisted hydrothermal method to promote the growing of ZnO nanostructured compounds, using a precursor solution of Zn(NO3)2·6H2O and hexamethylene tetramine, acting as a bi-dentate ligand capable of bridging two Zn2+ ions in solution. In addition, europium-doped ZnO (Zn(1−x)EuxO) and ZnO nanostructures were produced using Zn(NO3)2·6H2O and Eu(NO3)3·5H2O. The experimental levels (values) considered for every factor were Eu3+ concentration (0.02 and 0.06, atomic, %), temperature (80° and 120 °C) and time (30 and 50 min). The synthesis products were characterized through X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and photoluminescence measurements. Our results demonstrate that it is possible to produce nanostructures with specific size, morphology and physical properties depending on the specific synthesis based on our proposed experimental design.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. S. Shafiei, A. Nourbakhsh, B. Ganjipour, Diameter optimization of VLS-synthesized ZnO nanowires, using statistical design of experiment. Nanotechnology 18, 355708 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. D. Rocak, M. Kosec, A. Degen, Ceramic suspension optimization using factorial design of experiments. J. Eur. Ceram. Soc. 22, 391–395 (2002)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Z. Bayer Ozturk, B. Atay, M. Çakı, N. Ay, An investigation of color development by means of the factorial design in wall tile glazes with ferrochromium fly ash. Indian J. Eng. Mater. Sci. 22, 215–224 (2015)

    Google Scholar 

  4. Z. Bayer Ozturk, N. Ay, An investigation of the effect of alkaline oxides on porcelain tiles using factorial design. J. Ceram. Process. Res. 13, 635–640 (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  5. C. Fernandez, E. Verne, J. Vogel, G. Carl, Optimisation of the synthesis of glass ceramic matrix biocomposites by the ‘Responce Surface Methodology’. J. Eur. Ceram. Soc. 23, 1031–1038 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. C.N.R. Rao, A.K. Cheetham, Science and technology of nanomaterials: current status and future prospects. J. Mater. Chem. 11, 2887 (2001)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. S. Xu, N. Adiga, S. Ba, T. Dasgupta, J. Wu, Z.L. Wang, Optimizing and improving the growth quality of ZnO nanowire arrays guided by statistical design of experiments. ACS Nano 3, 1803 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. S. B. and J. Dutta, Hydrothermal growth of ZnO nanostructures. Sci. Technol. Adv. Mater. 10, 13001 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Y. Dong, Z.Q. Fang, D.C. Look, G. Cantwell, J. Zhang, J.J. Song, L.J. Brillson, Zn- and O-face polarity effects at ZnO surfaces and metal interfaces. Appl. Phys. Lett. 93, 07211 (2008)

    Google Scholar 

  10. Y. Zhang, M.K. Ram, E.K. Stefanakos, D.Y. Goswami, Synthesis, characterization, and applications of ZnO nanowires. J. Nanomater. 2012, 624520 (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  11. P.V. Korake, R. Sridharkrishna, P.P. Hankare, K.M. Garadkar, Photocatalytic degradation of phosphamidon using Ag-doped ZnO nanorods. Toxicol. Environ. Chem. 94, 1075 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. S. Yang, Y. Wang, L. Wang, G. Zhang, A. Vazinishayan, A. Duongthipthewa, Growth and characterization of ultra-long ZnO nanocombs. AIP Adv. 6, 65209 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. C. Li, Y. Lin, F. Li, L. Zhu, D. Sun, L. Shen, Y. Chen, S. Ruan, Hexagonal ZnO nanorings: synthesis, formation mechanism and trimethylamine sensing properties. RSC Adv. 5, 80561 (2015)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Y. Shi, S. Bao, R. Shi, C. Huang, A. Amini, Z. Wu, L. Zhang, N. Wang, C. Cheng, Y-shaped ZnO nanobelts driven from twinned dislocations. Sci. Rep. 6, 22494 (2016)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  15. W. Li, X. Wu, N. Han, J. Chen, X. Qian, Y. Deng, W. Tang, Y. Chen, MOF-derived hierarchical hollow ZnO nanocages with enhanced low-concentration VOCs gas-sensing performance. Sens. Actuators B Chem. 225, 158 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. J.W. Hoon, K.Y. Chan, J. Krishnasamy, T.Y. Tou, D. Knipp, Direct current magnetron sputter-deposited ZnO thin films. Appl. Surf. Sci. 257, 2508 (2011)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  17. L. Han, F. Mei, C. Liu, C. Pedro, E. Alves, Comparison of ZnO thin films grown by pulsed laser deposition on sapphire and Si substrates. Phys. E Low Dimens. Syst. Nanostructures 40, 699 (2008)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  18. S. Khosravi-Gandomani, R. Yousefi, F. Jamali-Sheini, N.M. Huang, Optical and electrical properties of p-type Ag-doped ZnO nanostructures. Ceram. Int. 40, 7957 (2014)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. P. Mohanty, B. Kim, J. Park, Synthesis of single crystalline europium-doped ZnO nanowires. Mater. Sci. Eng. B 138, 224 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. S.S. Kumar, P. Venkateswarlu, V.R. Rao, G.N. Rao, Synthesis, characterization and optical properties of zinc oxide nanoparticles. Int. Nano Lett. 3, 30 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Y.F. Gomes, A.K. Freitas, R.M. Nascimento, M.R.D. Bomio, C.A. Paskocimas, F.V. Motta, Experimental statistic design applied for obtaining Zn:xCe by microwave-assisted hydrothermal method with photocatalytic property. J. Adv. Ceram. 5, 103 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. W. Kern, J.E. Soc, J. Electrochem, The evolution of silicon wafer cleaning technology. J. Electrochem. Soc. 137, 1887 (1990)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. A. Phuruangrat, J. Ham, J. Hong, J. Sung, Synthesis of hexagonal WO3 nanowires by microwave-assisted hydrothermal method and their electrocatalytic activities for hydrogen evolution reaction. J. Mater. Chem. 20, 1683 (2010)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. J.L. Cervantes-López, R. Rangel, J. Espino, E. Martínez, R. García-Gutiérrez, P. Bartolo-Pérez, J.J. Alvarado-Gil, O.E. Contreras, Photoluminescence on cerium-doped ZnO nanorods produced under sequential atomic layer deposition hydrothermal processes. Appl. Phys. A 123, 86 (2017)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  25. O. Lupan, T. Pauporté, B. Viana, P. Aschehoug, M. Ahmadi, Science Eu-doped ZnO nanowire arrays grown by electrodeposition. Appl. Surf. Sci. 282, 782 (2013)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  26. J.L. Cervantes-López, R. Rangel, M. García-Méndez, H. Tiznado, O. Contreras, P. Quintana, P. Bartolo-Pérez, J.J. Alvarado-Gil, Indium-doped ZnO nanorods grown on Si (1 1 1) using a hybrid ALD-solvothermal method. Mater. Res. Express 4, 75032 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. J. Yang, X. Li, J. Lang, L. Yang, M. Wei, M. Gao, Synthesis and optical properties of Eu-doped ZnO nanosheets by hydrothermal method. Mater. Sci. Semicond. Process. 14, 247 (2011)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. O.M. Ntwaeaborwa, S.J. Mofokeng, V. Kumar, R.E. Kroon, Structural, optical and photoluminescence properties of Eu3+ doped ZnO nanoparticles. Spectrochim. Acta Part A Mol. Biomol. Spectrosc. 182, 42 (2017)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  29. M. Najafi, H. Haratizadeh, M. Ghezellou, The effect of annealing, synthesis temperature and structure on photoluminescence properties of Eu-doped ZnO nanorods. JNS 5, 129 (2015)

    Google Scholar 

  30. P.P. Pal, J. Manam, Structural and photoluminescence studies of Eu3+ doped zinc oxide nanorods prepared by precipitation method. J. Rare Earths 31, 37 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. M. Zhong, G. Shan, Y. Li, G. Wang, Y. Liu, Synthesis and luminescence properties of Eu3+-doped ZnO nanocrystals by a hydrothermal process. Mater. Chem. Phys. 106, 305 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. J. Huang, C. Xia, L. Cao, X. Zeng, Facile microwave hydrothermal synthesis of zinc oxide one-dimensional nanostructure with three-dimensional morphology. Mater. Sci. Eng. B 150, 187 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. M. Zareie, A. Gholami, M. Bahrami, A.H. Rezaei, M.H. Keshavarz, A simple method for preparation of micro-sized ZnO flakes. Mater. Lett. 91, 255–257 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. T.-P. Huynh, C. Pedersen, N.K. Wittig, H. Birkedal, Precipitation of inorganic phases through a photoinduced pH jump: from vaterite spheroids and shells to ZnO flakes and hexagonal plates. Cryst. Growth Des. 18, 1951–1955 (2018)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. B. Jason, F. Baxter, Wu, S. Eray, Aydil, Growth mechanism and characterization of zinc oxide hexagonal columns. Appl. Phys. Lett. 83, 3797–3799 (2003)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  36. P.P. Soumita Mukhopadhyay, S. Das, P. Maity, Ghosh, P. Sujatha Devi, Solution grown ZnO rods: synthesis, characterization and defect mediated photocatalytic activity. Appl. Catal. B. 165, 128–138 (2015)

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The present work was partially funded by Conacyt-Sener-Energy-Sustainability Grant 207450, within Strategic Project CEMIESol-Cosolpi No. 10 Solar Fuel and Industrial Processes. R Rangel acknowledges CIC-UMSNH under project 2018. The measurements were performed at LANNBIO Cinvestav Mérida. Also wish to thank to FOMIX-Yucatán 2008-108160 Conacyt LAB-2009-01-123913, 292692, 294643 projects. Authors also thank the technical help provided by W Cauich (XPS), D. Huerta (SEM), J. Bante and B. Heredia, and D. Aguilar (XRD) from Cinvestav-Unidad Merida.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. División de estudios de Posgrado, Facultad de Ingeniería Química, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, 58000, Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico

    J. L. Cervantes-López, R. Rangel, V. J. Cedeño & J. Espino

  2. Departamento de Física Aplicada, CINVESTAV-IPN, Unidad Mérida, 97310, Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico

    J. L. Cervantes-López, J. J. Alvarado-Gil & P. Quintana

  3. CNyN-UNAM, 22800, Ensenada, BC, Mexico

    O. Contreras

Authors
  1. J. L. Cervantes-López
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. R. Rangel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. V. J. Cedeño
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. J. J. Alvarado-Gil
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. P. Quintana
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. O. Contreras
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. J. Espino
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to R. Rangel.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Cervantes-López, J.L., Rangel, R., Cedeño, V.J. et al. Controlling the aspect ratio of Zn(1−x)Eu(x)O nanostructures obtained by a statistical experimental design involving atomic layer deposition and microwave-assisted hydrothermal methods. Appl. Phys. A 125, 41 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-018-2362-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-018-2362-2

Search

Navigation