Synthesis of small diameter ZnO nanorods via refluxing route in alcohol–water mixing solution containing zinc salt and urea

A single-step refluxing route was proposed to prepare small diameter ZnO nanorods, using zinc salt and urea as reactants, alcohol and water mixing solvents as reaction media, without any surfactants and/or seeds added. The resulting materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), electron diffraction (ED) and high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM).