Thermodynamic functions and growth constants of web-like ZnO nanostructures

Web-like ZnO nanostructures have been successfully synthesized using the potassium nitrate route at various temperatures to simplify conventional preparation methods. The structures and morphologies of the as-prepared products were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). The results showed that the reaction temperature was an important parameter, and that there was a feedback effect between nano-structure and growth parameters, combined with in situ micro-calorimetry, the reaction rate constants of the three systems were found to have been: 2.43×10^?6, 2.70×10^?8 and 3.12×10^?7 s^?1 respectively. Furthermore, based on the relationship governing the potential differences between nano- and bulk ZnO, thermodynamic functions of nano-ZnO such as standard molar entropy (S _{m, ZnO(nano)} ^Θ ), standard molar Gibbs free energy of formation (Δ _r G _{m, ZnO(nano)} ^Θ ), and standard molar enthalpy of formation (Δ_r H _{m, ZnO(nano)} ^Θ ) have been calculated by the electrochemical method. nano-thermodynamics, nano-ZnO, thermal properties, microcalorimetry, thermodynamic functions