Tubular-shaped ZnO crystals were synthesized by thermal evaporation technique under air atmosphere. Mixture of Zn and Mg powder was used as the source material. The thermal evaporation and oxidation of Zn/Mg mixture were carried out for 1 hr at 1,000℃ and 1,200℃ under in air under atmospheric pressure. When only Zn powder was used as a source material, tetrapod-shaped ZnO crystals were synthesized. This provides that Mg played a key role in the formation of the tubular-shaped crystals. SEM images showed that the tubular-shaped ZnO crystals grew along [0001] direction. XRD spectrum revealed that the ZnO tubes had hexagonal wurtzite structure. Two emission peaks at 380 nm and 510 nm were observed in the room temperature cathodoluminescence spectrum.

ZnO crystals with octahedral shape were synthesized by thermal evaporation technique. ZnF2 powder was used as the source material. The thermal evaporation and oxidation of ZnF2 powder was carried out for 1 hr at 1,000℃ in air under atmospheric pressure. SEM images showed that the ZnO crystals produced by oxidizing ZnF2 vapor possessed a characteristic octahedral shape. XRD spectrum revealed that the ZnO octahedron had hexagonal wurtzite structure. In the room temperature photoluminescence spectrum, a strong green emission peak at around 510 nm was observed.

ZnO crystals with a baseball bat shape were synthesized without any catalysts through a simple thermal oxidation of ZnS powder in alumina crucible under air atmosphere. SEM images demonstrated that the bat structure was composed of two pieces of ZnO crystals, i.e hexagonal-shaped rod and inverted cone-shaped rod. X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern revealed that the ZnO crystals had wurtzite hexagonal structure. Energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectrum showed that the ZnO was of high purity. A strong green emission peak at 510 nm was observed in cathodoluminescece spectrum.

ZnO crystals with belt and comb shapes were synthesized without any catalysts through a simple thermal oxidation of ZnS powder in alumina crucible under air atmosphere. X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern revealed that the ZnO crystals had wurtzite structure of hexagonal phase. Energy dispersive x-ray (EDX) spectra showed that the ZnO was of high purity. In the cathodoluminescece spectra obtained for the ZnO crystals with belt and comb shapes, a strong ultraviolet emission centered at 380nm was observed, which indicates the ZnO crystal has high crystalline quality.

ZnO nanostructures with tetrapod, needle and multipod shapes were synthesized without catalysts through a simple thermal oxidation of metallic Zn powder in alumina crucible under air atmosphere. X-ray diffraction data revealed that the ZnO nanostructures had wurtzite structure of hexagonal phase. Energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectra showed that the ZnO was of high purity. After the oxidation of Zn powder, white colored product was mainly observed and yellow colored product was observed only a very little on the surface of the oxidized source materials. The white product consisted of tetrapods, while yellow product was composed of needles and multipods. Cathodoluminescece spectra showed that the crystalline quality of tetrapods was better that those of needles and multipods.