Abstract: ZnO with controllable morphologies of hexangular pillars, tubes, tablets and tube-structured needles was hydro/ solvo-thermally synthesized by simply changing solvents among H₂O, H₂O₂, alcohol and olefin, using Zn(NO₃)₂·6H₂O and NaOH as the starting materials. The products were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and photoluminescence (PL) measurement. The growth mechanism of differently structured ZnO was discussed. The results reveal that the synthesized ZnO crystals possess a wurtzite structure, the solvent kind has very different influence on the morphology of ZnO, and the hexangular pillars, tablets, short pillars and needles of ZnO are easily obtained in solvent of H₂O, C₂H₅OH+H₂O, wet olefin, and H₂O₂.

Key words: zinc oxide; synthesis; morphology; solvent; photoluminescence