Article ID: M2012091
Chestnut bur-like zinc oxide crystals were synthesized by the thermal evaporation of zinc sulfide powder without the use of any catalyst. A magnifying lens was used to heat up the zinc sulfide powder. Thermal solar energy was concentrated on the zinc sulfide powder by the magnifying lens. Then the zinc sulfide powder was heated and evaporated within a relatively short time. The zinc sulfide vapor was oxidized in air and the chestnut bur-like zinc oxide crystals were formed. EDX spectrum revealed that the zinc oxide crystals had wurtzite hexagonal structure. A strong green emission was observed in cathodoluminescence spectrum. The thermal evaporation technique using solar energy is one of the techniques to reduce the energy consumption and costs.