Fabrication of Nanoflowers and other Exotic Patterns

Abstract

A wide variety of metallic and metal oxide nanoflowers and other exotic patterns have been fabricated using different techniques. We have created copper and cupric oxide nanoflowers using two different techniques: electro-deposition of copper in polymer and anodic alumina templates, and cytyltrimethal ammonium bromide (CTAB)-assisted hydrothermal method, respectively. Zinc oxide and manganese oxide nanoflowers have been synthesized by thermal treatment. Characterization of nanoflowers is done in the same way as for nanowires using XRD, SEM, TEM and FESEM. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) images record some interesting morphologies of metallic copper nanoflowers. Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM) has been used to determine morphology and composition of copper oxide nanoflowers. X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern reveals the monoclinic phase of CuO in the crystallographic structure of copper oxide nanoflowers. Nanoflowers find interesting applications in industry. There is an element of random artistic design of nature, rather than science, in exotic patterns of nanoflowers fabricated in our laboratory.