In situ self-assembly of thin ZnO nanoplatelets into hierarchical mesocrystal microtubules with surface grafting of nanorods: A general strategy towards hollow mesocrystal structures

A new strategy for inducing the solid nanoparticle rod into the first mesocrystal microtubule and capabilities of the polyelectrolyte used to manipulate nanoparticle self-assembly to fabricate hollow Zno tubular structures is developed experimentally. The formation process of hierarchical mesocrystal Zno tubules included two chemical reactions, which are thermolysis of zinc complex and water-oxidation of metal zinc. Field emission scanning electron micrographs (FESEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to investigate the formation pathway of tubular mesocrystal. High resolution FESEM showed that the hierarchical Zno microtubules are constructed from very small particles. The mesocrystalization process of the hierarchical microtubules was clearly demonstrated with the help of high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and electron diffraction observations. The experiment helped to provide the chemical flexible control over nonclassical mesocale assembly.