Synthesis of pencil-shaped ZnO nanowires using sunlight

Abstract

ZnO nanowires with pencil shape were synthesized in several seconds through a simple thermal evaporation of ZnS powder using sunlight under air atmosphere. ZnS powder was used as a source material. Light from the sun was used to heat and evaporate the ZnS powder. The sunlight was converged on the ZnS powder by a fresnel lens, and then the ZnS powder was evaporated and oxidized in air. ZnO nanowires with a diameter of about 100nm and lengths up to several micrometers were fabricated. Any catalysts were not used in the synthesis of ZnO nanowires, from which it is suggested that the ZnO nanowires were grown by a simple evaporation–condensation mechanism. This synthetic method using sunlight must be a green technique with low energy consumption and without any environmental pollution.