Micro-nanometer parasitic crystal growth and photoluminescence property of unique screw-cone like Zn₂GeO₄-ZnO by combustion oxidization

screw-cone-like Zn₂GeO₄-ZnO particles with a base diameter of approximately 400 nm and a height of 400-800 nm or so were successfully synthesised by combustion oxidation of zinc and germanium powder at 960°C. No catalyst or carrier gases were used. XRD and SEM analyses reveal that Zn₂GeO₄ and ZnO grew to parasitic crystals evenly in interaction with each other. EDS images exhibit the homogeneity of the distribution of Ge and Zn. The formation mechanism is discussed and attributed to the unique growth process of the screw-cone-like Zn₂GeO ₄-ZnO particles and its vapour-solid (VS) growth mechanism. In addition, the Zn₂GeO₄-ZnO particles could tune the energy level structure of nano-tetrapod ZnO, which leads to the emission peak redshift from 376 nm to 435 nm and enhances the light emission intensity in the visible light region.