Papers by Author: L.Q. Zhou

Abstract: A simple and cheap method has been applied to synthesize single-crystal uniform ZnO tubes with high yield in a hydrothermal process using Zn(NO3)2⋅6H2O and methenamine as reaction precursors at low temperature. The products are characterized by XRD, SEM, TEM and SAED. ZnO tubes are uniform single-crystal structures and grow along the [0001] direction. They have straight and regular hexagonal configuration with faceted ends and slippery side surfaces. The growth mechanism of ZnO tubes is investigated and the processing conditions are critical for the formation of ZnO tubes.

Abstract: Highly ordered single-crystal iron nanowire arrays with different diameters have been fabricated in anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) templates by DC electrodeposition method. The Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) show that the iron nanowires are highly uniform and exhibit a single crystal structure. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns of iron nanowire arrays indicate that most of the iron nanowire arrays have the obvious preferred orientation along the [200] direction. From the hysteresis loops of the iron nanowires, it reveals that the easy magnetization axes of nanowire arrays are along the long axis. The sample with smaller diameter (d=35nm) has a high square ratio (up to 98%) and a high coercive filed (1265Oe) when the external magnetic field is applied along axis of the nanowires. When the diameter decreases, the square ratio and the coercive field increase due to the single-domain structure and the strong shape anisotropy in the smaller diameter nanowire arrays.