ZnO crystals with different morphologies were synthesized through a thermal evaporation of Zn-Mn mixtures in air. The morphology was dependant on the Mn content in Zn-Mn mixture. The morphology was changed from rod to tetrapod shape with decreasing Mn content in Zn-Mn mixture. There sult indicates that the concentration of Mn might be responsible for the different morphologies of ZnOcrystals. XRD spectra showed that the ZnO crystals had a hexagonal wurtzite crystal strutures. For all the samples, room temperature cathodoluminescence spectra showed a ultra-violet emission at 380 nm and a green emission at around 500 nm. However, the intensity ratio of ultra-violet emission to green emission was significantly different with the Mn content in the source material.

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 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.