Arc discharge assisted synthesis of ZnO whiskers and nanowires

The last nanotechnology achievements and the variety of new phenomena following from the material dimension reduction have accelerated the study of nanoparticle properties and the methods of their production. This article reports synthesis of ZnO nanowires and nanowhiskers by the assistance of DC arc discharge. The arc is burned between a graphite cathode and a graphite anode filled with ZnO. The reactor operates in a pre-evacuated argon-filled chamber at a pressure of 3x10(4) Pa. No catalysts have been used. ZnO of different morphology (nanowires, whiskers and particle agglomerates) is obtained on a Si wafer or on a glass substrate and has been studied by SEM and EDS.