ZnO micro/nanocrystals with controlled oxygen defects are successfully prepared through annealing precursors obtained via a simple solvothermal method. The size and surface defects of the as-synthesized ZnO micro/nanocrystals increase with the solvent volume ratio of water/ethanol increasing; the BET surface areas of the corresponding samples decrease during these processes; photoluminescence reveals that the type and concentration of surface defects (oxygen vacancy and interstitial oxygen) are quite different for the samples prepared via different solvent volume ratio of water/ethanol. In addition, it is found that the photocatalytic activity of the synthesized ZnO nanocrystals is mainly dependent on the concentration of surface defects. The sample with more surface defects exhibits higher photocatalytic activity toward the degradation of methylene blue (MB). The possible photocatalytic mechanism is discussed in detail.

Zn(OH)F microbesoms have been synthesized on a large scale by a facile solution-based method using polymer as crystal growth modifier. The obtained products were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The effects of modifier polyacrylamide (PAM), reaction time, concentrations of NaF on the morphology and size of the product were studied. The results revealed that the Zn(OH)F microbesom had orthorhombic structures. Experimental conditions had all influence on the shape and size of the final products, but polymer PAM played the key role in formation of the Zn(OH)F microbesom. This novel structures exhibited good UV photocatalytic abilities.

Novel mesoporous hollow-flower-ball-like Cd₄Cl₃(OH)₅ was selectively synthesized using microwave-irradiation process. The structure of the resultant Cd₄Cl₃(OH)₅ was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and low temperature nitrogen sorption isotherms. The concentration of the reagents and the reaction time affect the formation of this hollow-flower-ball-like structure of this complex. The formation of this interesting structure may be attributed to the self-assembly of smaller inorganic building blocks during the crystallization process of Cd₄(OH)₅Cl₃ crystals. The photocatalytic activity of as-prepared Cd₄(OH)₅Cl₃ was evaluated by the degradation of salicylic acid and 4-chlorophenol in water under UV-irradiation.

CuO nanodiscs have been synthesized on a large scale by a facile solution-based method using polymers as crystal growth modifiers. X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) were carried out to characterize the structures and morphologies of the obtained products. The effects of reaction temperature, concentrations of polyacrylamide (PAM) and reactants on the morphology and size of the product were studied. The results revealed that the CuO nanodisc had single-crystal monoclinic structures, and grew along (002) and (110) planes. Experimental conditions had all influence on the shape and size of the final products, but polymer PAM played the key role in formation of the CuO nanodisc. A possible growth mechanism of the CuO nanostructures based on typical polymer-crystal interactions in a mild aqueous solution was given. Polymer-directed crystal growth may provide promising routes to rational synthesis of various ordered inorganic and inorganic-organic hybrid materials with complex forms and structural specialization.

Novel CdClOH sub-nanocone crystals were successfully synthesized on a large scale by a facile solution-based method using polymers as crystal growth modifiers. The crystals showed cone-like morphology. Some factors affecting the morphology and size of the product, such as reaction temperature, concentrations of polyacrylamide (PAM), and pH value of the solution, were systematically studied. Experiments implied that polymer PAM played a key role in the formation of CdClOH sub-nanocones. A possible formation mechanism of CdClOH sub-nanocones was suggested based on nucleation-etching process-recrystallization in a mild aqueous solution. Furthermore, the as-prepared CdClOH sub-nanocones could be further transformed into CdS hollow sub-nanocones by an anion-exchange reaction.

Doughnut-like Cd(OH)₂ microstructure was obtained by a facile solution-based method using polymer polyacrylamide (PAM) as a crystal growth modifier. Hexagonal flake-like Cd(OH)₂ is the building-block to assemble doughnut-like microstructures. The block concaves from one side when PAM is present in the synthesis system. However, nano-size Cd(OH)₂ doughnuts with a hole in the middle part were formed if carboxyl-functionalized polyacrylamide (PAM-COOH) was used as a crystal growth modifier. A possible mechanism for the Cd(OH)₂ microstructure formation based on typical oriented attachment process in the presence of polymer was discussed. Polymer-directed crystal growth and mediated self-assembly of nanocrystals may promise synthesis routes for variously ordered inorganic and inorganic-organic hybrid materials with complex forms and special structures.