Substrate-induced growth of nanostructured zinc oxide films at room temperature using concepts of biomimetic catalysis.

By kinetically controlled vapor-diffusion catalysis, nanostructured ZnO and Zn5(OH)8(NO3)3*2H2O thin films have been grown on substrates with different chemical compositions and varying degrees of crystallinity. The materials resulting from heterogeneous nucleation under mild conditions (starting from aqueous metal salt precursor solutions at room temperature) were characterized by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy to determine the influence of the substrates on the overall chemical composition, crystallinity, and morphology of the films.